But, the aptly named knockout roses along the front fence of brick and ornate wrought iron demand your attention. Look beyond the roses to the rounded boxwood topiaries at the corners that juxtapose the sharp corners of the home, as do the circle motif of the railings on the generous front porch and upstairs lanal. The landscape feels very cohesive yet the shady garden has many varieties of plants including euonymus, cast iron plants, Japanese holly and ponga ferns, a carob tree, and numerous pecans.

Built in 1887 by Henry Ilse, a farmer, rancher, and saloon owner and purchased and restored in 1965 by notable Columbus past citizens, Laura Ann and Buddy Rau. After 10 years in a couple other owners’ hands, the home was purchased by Tom Vining and Dent Beal who have lovingly and consistently maintained the home and yard. Definitely a home worth strolling past and stopping to smell the roses.

The Columbus Garden Club’s Yard of the Month program is a project of the National Garden Clubs and Texas Garden Club.

April Community Beautification Columbus State Bank 1102 Milam St.

The April Community Beautification Award was awarded to Columbus State Bank. When passing by the front of this historic bank, you may wonder why it is given this award. If so, explore its south side. The bank maintains a green oasis along the side and back of its building that is open to all residents and visitors. Driftwood roses beckon you to explore this little park.

Trellised vines, crape myrtles, mounds of lush liriope, massive magnolia trees, and a green hedge that encloses the secret garden from the hustle and bustle create a sanctuary perfect for a noonday break, afternoon respite, or a destination for an evening stroll. A gently winding concrete path ensures this shady refuge is accessible by all. Picnic tables and benches invite you to stay a while to soak in nature... and you should!

The bank, founded in 1919, preserved original walls and structural parts of the Boedecker building, built in 1859 by Henry Boedecker to house the first bank when the town of 750 boasted eleven stores, six hotels, and a local weekly newspaper, “The Colorado Citizen”. Today, the bank is reminiscent of the time it was built inside and out enhanced by a beautiful green shady park.

The Columbus Garden Club’s Community Beautification program is a project for the National Garden Clubs and Texas Garden Club.

Columbus Country Market

Last Saturdays from March to November | 9 a.m. – noon | County Courthouse Square, 400 Spring St | Columbus

Eagle Lake Market on the Square Third Fridays | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |100 E Main St | Eagle Lake

Stop and Shop on Milam Street Saturdays | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Milam Street | Columbus Participating vendors will be offering store specials. April 4, complimentary chocolates; April 11, signature drinks; April 18, munchies and specialty bites; and April 25, sidewalk sales.

Weimar Farmers Market

Second Saturdays from January to November | 8 a.m. – noon | City Pavilion, 106 W Market St | Weimar

COMMUNITY SERVICES Columbus Food Pantry

Third Fridays | 8 a.m. – noon | Family Life Center, 419 Washington St | Columbus

Dementia Support Group

Second Tuesdays | 2–3:30 p.m. | St. John’s Episcopal Church, 915 Travis St | Columbus

Eagle Lake Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry First and fourth Mondays | 9:30–11:30 a.m. | First Baptist Church, 527 N Lake Ave. | Eagle Lake Seniors Together

First and third Wednesdays | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | St. Paul Lutheran Church Lighthouse, 201 Veterans Drive | Columbus

United Methodist Church Mobile Food Pantry Second Mondays | 9:30–11 a.m. | United Methodist Church, 200 W Prairie | Eagle Lake

HEALTH AND FITNESS Fitness is Fun

Every Wednesday | 10–11 a.m. | United Methodist Church, 200 W Prairie | Eagle Lake Mindful stretching and strength exercises with as high or low impact as needed for those over 40. Takes place in the Methodist Fellowship Hall. Sponsored by Methodist Women.

Flex, Stretch & Balance for Adults Every Monday and Wednesday | 9–9:45 a.m. | Nesbitt Memorial Library, 529 Washington St | Columbus Stretching, breathing exercises and low impact movement.

Library in Motion

Every Wednesday | 10 a.m. | Weimar Public Library, 1 Jackson Square | Weimar Activity changes every week. Check the library website for activities at weimar. ploud.net.

EDUCATION AND ARTS Family Storytime

Every Thursday | 10–10:30 a.m. | Weimar Public Library, 1 Jackson Square | Weimar Followed by Preschool Discovery Activity Time.

Author Ariel Slick and “The Devil Take the Blues” Thursday, April 23 | 6–7 p.m. | The Story Peddler, 538 W Main St | Bellville Southern Gothic author Ariel Slick invites readers to experience blues music as the antidote to hatred and love as the challenge to control with her new novel “The Devil Take the Blues” at an author event featuring an excerpt reading, audience Q&A and book signings.

Poetry Open Mic Night

Thursday, April 23 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. | Weimar City Gazebo, 1 Jackson Square | Weimar Join Weimar Public Library and community at the gazebo for poetry open mic. All ages welcome.

Ragin’ Cajun with the County Fair Association Saturday, April 25 | 5 p.m. | Colorado County Fairgrounds, 1146 Crossroads Blvd | Columbus Social at 5 p.m. with a meal of shrimp and crawfish to follow at 6 p.m. Live auction will start at 7 p.m. in addition to the Junior Fair Bord Scholarship Silent Auction. Tickets are $40 per person or a table of eight for $500.

80s and 90s Night at Urban Saloon Saturday, April 25 | 9 p.m. – midnight | Urban Saloon, 523 Walnut St | Columbus GenXs is bringing back the songs that raised us — from Bon Jovi and The Black Crowes to Van Halen and everything in between. Enjoy a live band, cold drinks and high energy crowd for loud, nostalgic, singat- the-top-of-your-lungs kind of fun.

DIY Mat Painting Class

Sunday, April 26 | 1–3 p.m. | Hound Song Brewing Co. 525 Walnut St | Columbus Join Juarez Kreationz for a fun afternoon where you’ll learn how to paint your own doormat! All supplies will be provided, and colors are customizable. Register online.

Thunder by the Colorado

Friday and Saturday, May 1-2 | Colorado County Fairgrounds, 1146 Crossroads Blvd | Columbus Annual truck and tractor pull with food, monster truck rides, arts and crats, camping and more. Main show at 6:30 p.m. both nights. Tickets $20 with under 12 free.

Weimar Library Book Sale

Saturday, May 2 | 8 a.m. – noon | Weimar Public Library, 1 Jackson Square | Weimar Annual Friends of the Library book sale.

Derby Day

Saturday, May 2 | 4–11 p.m. | Magnolia Society, 920 Milam St | Columbus Join an afternoon inspired by the Kentucky Derby, featuring Southern-style fare, specialty cocktails, a hat contest, and live music by Barditch Hippies. $20 patio cover.

Gedenke! 2026

Friday and Saturday, May 8-9 | downtown Weimar Two days of food, music, community, and celebration in the heart of downtown Weimar. Enjoy a festive parade, vendors, beer garden, pie contest, BBQ cook off and more! Weimar Rotary Clu will host the 5k Fun Run on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

From past sales the community knows to expect plants grown by garden club members….plants that are really not found in nurseries. But there will be other plants that gardeners want because they are the foundation of color for the Spring and Summer plantings. And there will be some shade trees, too.

Also to be found at the sale will be baked goods such as cakes, pies, cookies and frozen casseroles. There will also be yard art. The garden club cart will again be filled with gardening supplies, and some very lucky person will win it in a drawing. Proceeds from the garden cart drawing will go to the club’s scholarship program that benefits local high school students.

Come be with other garden enthusiasts and exchange information about gardening.

JAN. 24, 2026

At 2:28 am Ofc. Haman responded to the 2400 block of Hwy 71 in reference to possible criminal mischief. After further investigation, Ilona Chovanetz of Columbus was arrested for criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia and was taken to the Colorado County Detention Center.

At 3:00 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 1500 block of Montezuma St in reference to an escort.

JAN. 25, 2026

At 3:19 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 900 block of Bowie St in reference to an alarm. The building was found secure.

JAN. 26, 2026

At 8:30 am Det. Kent responded to the 600 block of Spring St in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was not located.

At 10:15 am Ofc. Salinas responded to the 100 block of Becica St in reference to a suspicious person. The subject was not located.

At 10:59 am Ofc. Salinas responded to the 1600 block of Front St in reference to a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle was located and all was found to be in order.

At 5:48 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 300 block of Walnut St in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was not located.

JAN. 27, 2026

At 7:35 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the 1500 block of Rampart St in reference to possible theft. After further investigation, all was found to be in order.

JAN. 28, 2026

At 9:33 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 600 block of Spring St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 9:42 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 2500 block of Hwy 71 in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 4:35 pm Sgt. Wilson responded to the 200 block of Smith St in reference to an alarm. The building was found secure.

At 4:56 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 1000 block of Preston St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 5:20 pm Sgt. Wilson responded to the 800 block of Fannin St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

JAN. 29, 2026 No calls.

JAN. 30, 2026

At 12:50 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 600 block of Spring St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 1:31 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 100 block of Burford St in reference to a scam. Information was received.

At 2:40 pm Sgt. Wilson responded to the 1500 block of Montezuma St in reference to an escort.

At 10:30 am Sgt. Wilson responded to the 500 block of Spring St in reference to a vehicle accident. A crash report was completed.

At 6:57 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the 200 block of Railroad Ave in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

JAN. 31, 2026

At 11:39 am Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 1400 block of Walnut St in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was located, and all was found to be in order.

At 12:47 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 600 block of Preston St in reference to a vehicle accident. A crash report was completed.

At 1:11 pm Ofc. Haman responded to the 500 block of Harbert St in reference to an alarm. The building was found secure.

At 1:32 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 1500 block of Montezuma St in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was located, and all was found to be in order.

At 3:39 pm Ofc. Haman responded to the 200 block of Charter St in reference to a 911 hang-up. The officer arrived and learned it was accidental.

At 5:49 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 200 block of Charter St in reference to a 911 hang-up. The officer arrived and learned no emergency was needed.

FEB. 1, 2026

At 12:07 am Ofc. Avalos responded to the 2100 block of Milam St in reference to an alarm. The building was found secure.

At 9:32 am Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 900 block of Martin Luther King St in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was not located.

At 11:56 am Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 2100 block of Milam St in reference to a suspicious person. The subject was located, and all was found to be in order.

At 1:16 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 2100 block of Milam St in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was located, and all was found to be in order.

At 1:56 pm Lt. Lara responded to the 2500 block of Hwy 71 in reference to a suspicious vehicle. After further investigation, Edwidge Jacinthe of Florida was arrested for Public Intoxication and was transported to the Colorado County Detention Center.

FEB. 2, 2026

At 10:56 am Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 1600 block of Bowie St in reference to an escort.

At 11:24 am Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 500 block of Spring St in reference to an escort.

At 11:40 am Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 600 block of Spring St in reference to possible harassment. Information was received.

At 2:06 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 1600 block of Hwy 71 in reference to a suspicious person. The subject was located and all was found to be in order.

At 10:26 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the 2100 block of Milam St in reference to an animal complaint. The animal was located and taken to the city pound.

FEB. 3, 2026

At 1:49 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 600 block of Bonham St in reference to an escort.

At 1:17 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 600 block of Preston St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 3:44 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 1000 block of Dewees St in reference to a wanted person. After further investigation, Marc Anthony-Perez of Columbus was arrested for probation warrants and was taken to the Colorado County Detention Center.

FEB. 4, 2026

At 1:07 am Ofc. Avalos assisted the Colorado County Deputies on the 1000 block of CR 107 in reference to a possible disturbance.

At 3:01 am Ofc. Avalos responded to the intersection of Fannin and Martin Luther King St in reference to a suspicious person. The subject was not located.

At 6:22 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 2100 block of Milam St in reference to an alarm. The building was found secure.

At 1:30 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 2000 block of Milam St in reference to an alarm. The building was found secure.

At 1:38 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 900 block of Walnut St in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was located, and all was found to be in order.

At 1:51 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 100 block of Shult Dr in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was not located.

FEB. 5, 2026

At 5:41 am Ofc. Haman responded to the 600 block of Preston St in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was located, and all was found in order.

At 9:22 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 600 block of Spring St in reference to a possible scam. Information was received.

At 10:53 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 2100 block of Milam St in reference to a possible disturbance. The subjects were located, separated, and removed from the property.

At 3:07 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 2000 block of Milam St in reference to a vehicle accident. A crash report was completed.

At 6:38 pm Ofc. Haman responded to the 2500 block of Hwy 71 in reference to an animal complaint. The animal was located, and all was found to be in order.

FEB. 6, 2026

At 10:55 a Sgt. Neumann responded to the 100 block of Shult Dr in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was not located.

At 2:30 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 900 block of Walnut St in reference to an unwanted person. The subject was located and removed from the property.

At 5:44 pm Ofc. Haman responded to the 2100 block of Hwy 71 in reference to a possible burglary of a business. Information was received; case pending.

At 6:20 pm Sgt. Wilson responded to the 600 block of Spring St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 7:30 pm Sgt. Wilson responded to the 2200 block of Walnut St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 8:10 pm Ofc. Haman responded to the 1200 block of Live Oak St in reference to an unwanted person. The subject was not located.

At 10:14 pm Ofc. Haman responded to the 2200 block of Hwy 71 in reference to a possible reckless driver. The vehicle was located, and all was found to be in order.

DISCLAIMER

Arrest and court records are public information, and the press has the right to publish them under the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

It is important to note that an arrest should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In the matter of the marriage of Margaret Allison Frey and James Edward Frey, divorce: no children, filed Feb. 2.

In the matter of the marriage of Pamela Black-Williams and John Williams Jr., divorce: no children, filed Feb. 2.

In the matter of the marriage of Jasmine Marie Gonzalez and Javier Hernandez, divorce; with children, filed Feb. 2.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Krystal Dabney, tax delinquency, filed Feb. 3.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Unknown Heirs to the Estate of Patricia Huckeba Stovall, deceased, tax cases, filed Feb. 3.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Michelle Renee Kleppel, tax delinquency, filed Feb. 4.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Unknown Heirs to the Estate of Jane A Haglund, et al, tax cases, filed Feb. 4.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Roy Joiner, et al, tax cases, filed Feb. 4.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Elysia Walker Hernandez, et al, tax cases, filed Feb. 4.

In the matter of the marriage of Robin Chantelle Sanjuan and George Michael Harris III, divorce: no children, filed Feb. 5.

In the matter of the marriage of Melany Abigail Rodriguez and Juan Antonio Berlanga Gomez, divorce: with children, filed Feb. 5.

Mitchel Guerra vs. Fulger Transport, Inc., Parbinder Singh, injury/damage: motor vehicle, filed Feb. 5.

State of Texas vs. $31,513.00 in U.S Currency, seizure/forfeit, filed Feb. 5.

Jefferson Capital Systems LLC vs. Gregory Lobpries, debt/contract-debt collection, filed Feb. 5.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Reynold Chapa, et al, tax cases, filed Feb. 6.

State of Texas vs. Esteban Chavez, A-Action Bail Bonds, judgment nisi, filed Feb. 6.

State of Texas vs. Kenneth Anthony Tufts, AAffordable Bail Bonds, judgment nisi, filed Feb. 6.

Aikman Structured Finance, LLC vs. Name Redacted, other civil, filed Feb. 6.

Jefferson Capital Systems vs. Randy Trevino, debt/contract-debt collection, filed Feb. 9.

ZeoGas LLC vs. Fox Rothschild LLP, Steven Zelkowitz, other civil, filed Feb. 10.

John Edward Harvey vs. Jimmie L. Class Construction, Ismael Monjaras Garay, other civil, filed Feb. 12.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Alex B Woolridge, et al, tax delinquency, filed Feb. 13.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Tiffany Romo, Jennifer Romo, and Lisa Romo, tax delinquency, filed Feb. 13.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Diana Dolores Diaz, tax cases, filed Feb. 13.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Brandon Beaulieu, tax delinquency, filed Feb. 13.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Derrick Rollins, et al, tax delinquency, filed Feb. 20.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Unknown Heirs to the Estate of Baudelaire Castillo, deceased, tax cases, filed Feb. 20.

State of Texas vs. Adrian Lara, writ - habeas corpus - 11.07 and 11.071, filed Feb. 20.

Juan Areola vs. Joe Sherwood, injury/damage: motor vehicle, filed Feb. 24.

In the matter of the marriage of Jessica Lynn Womack and Wallace Dale Womack, divorce: children, filed Feb. 26.

Wells Fargo Bank, NA vs. Joel Usher, debt/ contract-debt collection, filed Feb. 27.

Independence Capital Recovery, LLC vs. Jonathan Slemp, debt/contract-debt collection, filed Mar. 2.

Irving Williams and Ruby Williams vs. Ignacio Salvador Salazar Hernandez and Silvia Marquez Torres, real property: other, filed Mar. 3.

State of Texas vs. Veronica Renee Perales, writ- other, filed Mar. 3.

Colorado County Appraisal District vs. Unknown Heirs to the Estate of Loreca Thomas, tax cases, filed Mar. 4.

Amy Schieberle Thibodeaux vs. Freddy Francis Grahmann, injury/damage: motor vehicle, filed Mar. 5.

Hector Manjarrez Guasco vs. Medsharps, LLC, Marshall Shredding LLC, Medsharps DFW LLC, Medsharps East LLC, Medsharps Treatment LLC, Medsharps West LLC, Penske Truck Leasing Co L.P, Brandon Armstrong, injury/damage: motor vehicle, filed Mar. 5.

Bruce Allen Crawford vs. John Christian Elledge, injury/damage: motor vehicle, filed Mar. 5.

In the matter of the marriage of Terence Orlando Carter and Taniasha Monique Carter, divorce: no children, filed Mar. 5.

In the matter of the marriage of Meredith Milentz and Matthew Milentz, divorce: no children, filed Mar. 10.

Robert Demarco vs. Veterans Memorial Park of Weimar, Tx, injury/damage: other injury or damage, filed Mar. 11.

In the matter of the marriage of Douglas William Barncastle and Hailey Raelyn Barncastle, divorce: children, filed Mar. 12.

Kermig Huang vs. Thomas Earl Kuykendall, Fireball Enterprise, injury/damage: motor vehicle, filed Mar. 13.

MARRIAGES:

Devyn Duwayne Shorter and Valerie Nicole Ramirez issued February 5.

Dmytro Karienin and Keyana Latrice Stovall issued February 12.

Christopher Ruiz and Lucia Mendez issued February 12.

Chase Alexander Gindler and Juliet Rose Mc-Graw issued February 13.

Brandon Lee Bryson and Marisol Uriostegui Flores issued February 13.

Jessie Scott and Yvonne Marie Gaffney-Percy issued February 26.

Orvil Luke Ruvalcaba and Stefani Daryl Gertson issued February 27.

Tyler Alden Thomas and Audrey Daniel Thomson issued February 27.

• Make sure your child knows you love them even if they did something wrong.

• Ask for your child’s opinion and ideas. What makes a good friend? Where is a place you would want to travel someday?

Help families under stress

• Offer to babysit.

• Help a family member or friend with chores, errands, or lend a listening ear.

Know where to get help

• Don’t feel like you have to “do it all.” Let your friends, family, or neighbors help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We all need help sometimes.

• Visit GetParentingTips.org for resources and information. Share the information with a friend who might need help.

Protect your child

• Listen to your child if they say they don’t feel comfortable around someone.

• Tell your child to say “no” and “get away,” and to tell you right away if anyone tries to touch or hurt them.

• Abusers often tell their victims to keep what they do a “secret.” Teach your child the difference between a good secret, like a surprise party, and a bad secret, like something that makes them feel bad or uncomfortable. Make sure you child understands that it’s OK to tell you “bad secrets.”

Ruether, a dedicated educator with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University, has served Columbus Elementary for 26 years. She began her career as a 3rd grade teacher before becoming the Gifted & Talented instructor, where her passion for teaching Texas history has continued to flourish.

Known for bringing Texas history to life, Ruether creates meaningful, memorable learning experiences that deeply engage her fourth graders. She emphasizes building strong personal relationships with her students and believes that “history has a way of teaching lessons, causing reflection and thought, and inspiring new ideas.” Her classroom is a place where creativity and innovation thrive, blending history with STEM, problemsolving, and handson exploration.

Columbus Elementary Principal Shana Neisner praised Ruether’s exceptional approach, noting that she “is able to transform Texas History from a traditional content area into an immersive, handson learning experience.”

Ruether’s commitm ent extends beyond the classr o om. She works closely with members of the Dilue Rose Harris Chapter of the DRT, coordinating presentation of the Texas Pioneer Life Trunk Show, encouraging student participation in the annual art contest, and inspiring young writers to craft Texas history essays.

The Dilue Rose Harris Chapter celebrates Ruether’s welldeserved statewide honor, and the Columbus community proudly recognizes her dedication, passion, and lasting impact on students. Her work continues to enrich young learners and strengthen appreciation for Texas history throughout the region. For more information on the DRT, please visit the website at www. drtinfo.org or the Dilue Rose Harris Chapter Facebook page. Any woman interested in becoming a full or associate member of the Dilue Rose Harris Chapter in Columbus may contact Marilyn Wade (MBWade.DRT@gmail.com). Full members can prove lineal descent from a Republic of Texas patriot or citizen. Associate membership is offered to those women who would not otherwise be eligible for full membership but have a deep interest in the history of Texas and the objectives of DRT.

The Appelt family has a strong tradition of patriotism. Melanie is the daughter of a veteran who served in both the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, and his legacy of service helped instill in her a deep sense of patriotism. From an early age, she was raised with values that included the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.

Darrel and Melanie are proud parents of two sons and grandparents to four grandchildren. Their son Stephen served five years in the United States Marine Corps, earning the rank of Sergeant and receive a Purple Heart for his service. Their other son, Kyle, and his wife, Montana, both serve as Captains in the United States Air Force and are currently stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

Melanie is a realtor with Tri-County Realty, while Darrel is a DJ at KLUM Radio. In addition to his work in broadcasting, Darrel is also a songwriter and singer and has received numerous community service awards for his contributions.

The Appelts’ dedication to country and community makes them a fitting choice for this month’s recognition.

Chief Petty Officer Sainz retired from the Navy after 22 years of faithful and dedicated service to our country, where he distinguished himself as a Chief Logistics Specialist in the Submarine Services.

The ceremonies were held at the U. S. Navy Undersea Museum adjacent to the Kitsap-Keyport Naval Base. Chief Sainz grew up in nearby Weimar and finished his Naval service at NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center in Puget Sound In his off-time, Jared acts as an umpire for college baseball and football. Following retirement, Jared, his wife Kristina, and their family plan to remain in the Seattle area.

The Lady Cards picked up a 10-2 win over Tidehaven this past week as they continue chugging along to playoffs.

The game started out with the Lady Cards in the field, and they made quick work of Tidehaven’s offense. In the bottom of the first inning, the Lady Cards were led off by a single from Kaylea Foster.

With a runner on Emma Beauchamp hit a single as well and Foster was able to score on a wild pitch. Leading now 1-0 Allie Cranek came up to bat and hit a fly ball deep into left field for a double which scored another run.

Aggie Rodriguez then brought Cranek home by hitting a single for the final run of the inning to give the Lady Cards a 3-0 lead. The game then went scoreless all the way until the top of the fifth inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, Tidehaven’s offense finally broke through the strong Lady Cards defense. They scored two runs and made the score 3-2 going into the sixth inning but the Lady Cards were ready with a big response.

In the bottom of the sixth inning the Lady Cards were led off with a double from Kaylea Mc-Carthy. Right after that Averie Miller hit a triple then Trinity Hopkins hit a double to bring two runs home and give the Lady Cards a 5-2 lead.

Foster then hit a single to bring home another run and make the score 6-2. Cranek was next up and she hit a double followed by a double from Peyton Drozd to bring home two runs and make the score 8-2.

Then finally Rodriguez and McCarthy hit singles to bring home two runs and arrive at the final score of 10-2.

With this game behind them the Lady Cards will continue their playoff push when they take on the Bellville Brahmanettes on Monday, April 20, at 6 p.m.

Not only did they defeat their cross-county rivals, but they shut them out with a final score of 8-0.

To start the game Raiders were on offense first and after hitting one single, the Cards quickly secured the three outs needed to go on offense. The Cards were led off by a single from Ryan Carter to get a runner on base.

The Raiders responded by getting the first out of the inning as Jayden Spaulding hit a pop fly that was caught by the Raiders. Then Brody Tribe was walked to get two runners on base which brought up Britton Wolters.

Wolters hit a single which drove home a run and gave the Cards a 1-0 lead over the Raiders. That was followed by a single from Wyatt Tipton that drove in another run to give the Cards a 2-0 lead.

Then Ty Wiggs hit a sacrifice fly ball for the second out of the inning, but it also brought home a run to give the Cards a 3-0 lead. The Cards then faced three batters in the second inning before going back on offense.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Cards had two outs on the board and the hit three doubles from Carter, Spaulding and Tribe to add two runs to their lead. Leading 5-0 the Cars carried this lead all the way to the bottom of the fourth inning where they scored three more runs thanks to a single from Carter and a single from Tribe to arrive at the final score of 8-0.

The Cards will look to continue their playoff push when they take on the Yoakum Bulldogs on Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m.

They came in 4th place with a total of 74 points so let’s take a look at their results and see what happened.

200MDASH Place Runner Time 5...............Landon Vacek ............24.323

800M Place Runner Time 5...............Trilyon Adams.........2:18.220

4X100M RELAY Place Team Time 5...............Ty Chmleik .................45.520 Lucas Moreno Mikael Shifatu Landon Vacek 4X200M RELAY Place Team Time 4...............Ty Chmleik .............. 1:36.014 Lucas Moreno Mikael Shifatu Jacob Wick

4X400M RELAY Place Team Time 3...............Troy Cantwell.......... 3:52.171 Caleb Treece Landon Vacek Jacob Wick LONG JUMP Place Jumper Distance

4...............Samuel Hernandez .....20’1.5

TRIPLE JUMP Place Jumper Distance

2...............Samuel Hernandez ...... 39’11

POLE VAULT Place Jumper Height 1...............Caleb Treece................... 12’6 2...............Ty Chmleik ..................... 11’0 3...............Troy Cantwell................. 11’0

They came in 1st place with 193 points which was 70 more points above 2nd place, and won the District Championship, so let’s take a look at the results.

100M DASH Place Runner Time 1...............Ella Herzik..................13.045 2...............Zariah Sims .................13.113

200M DASH Place Runner Time 1...............Addie Olive .................27.112 5...............Ella Herzik.................. 27.613

400M DASH Place Runner Time 1...............Addie Olive ................ 59.817 5...............Olivia Noska ............ 1:07.660

800M Place Runner Time 2...............Alazay Moreno........ 2:37.062 6...............Olivia Noska ............2:54.399

1600M Place Runner Time 3...............Alazay Moreno........ 6:15.787

3200M Place Runner Time 5...............Emily Sterndael .....15:12.143

100M HURDLES Place Runner Time

5...............Faith Cantwell ........... 19.758

300M HURDLES Place Runner Time 3...............Taitlyn Mican ............. 51.186

4...............Faith Cantwell ........... 51.875

4X100M RELAY Place Team Time 1...............Taityn Mican .............. 51.218 Olivia Noska Kimberly Rubio Zariah Sims

4X200M RELAY Place Team Time 1...............J’Lenn Conn ............ 1:49.481 Taitlyn Mican Brooke Ohnheizer Kimberly Rubio

4X400M RELAY Place Team Time 4...............Faith Cantwell ........4:32.779 J’Lenn Conn Alazay Moreno Addie Olive

LONG JUMP Place Jumper Height 2...............Taitlyn Mican ................. 16’4 6...............Ella Herzik ...................... 15’4

SHOT PUT Place Thrower Distance 1...............Skylar Rhodes ................ 33’8

DISCUS Place Thrower Distance 1...............Jaiya Cook ................. 105’2.5

TRIPLE JUMP Place Jumper Distance 1...............Addie Olive .................... 35’3 6...............Olivia Noska ...................28’1

HIGH JUMP Place Jumper Height 1...............Locklyn Tolbert ................5’2 3...............Addie Olive ...................... 5’0 4...............Ramsey Tolbert.............. 4’10

POLE VAULT Place Jumper Height 2...............Faith Cantwell ................. 8’6 3...............Olivia Noska ..................... 8’6

Early voting started Monday, April 20, and will run through Tuesday, April 28. Election Day is Saturday, May 2.

Colorado County residents will vote on contested races for Weimar city council member place 4, mayor of Eagle Lake, two Eagle Lake councilmember positions and Rice CISD position 6 board trustee. Uncontested positions on the ballot include mayor of Weimar, Weimar city council member place 2 and Rice CISD position 7 board trustee.

Countywide Voting

According to Colorado County Elections Administrator Rebecka LaCourse, the county has been approved by the Secretary of State to participate in the Countywide Polling Place Program, effective May 2, 2026. Voters may vote at any of the following locations during early voting and on Election Day:

• Nada Community Center – St. Mary’s at 7825 Hwy 71, Nada, Texas

• Frelsburg Volunteer Fire Department at 1669 FM 109, New Ulm, Texas

• Colorado County Election Center at 1117 Travis St., Columbus, Texas

• Eagle Lake Community Center at 100 N. Walnut, Eagle Lake, Texas

• Weimar City Hall at 106 E. Main, Weimar, Texas Voting centers are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout early voting, with the exception of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 26. Early voting was closed Tuesday, April 21, due to the state holiday of San Jacinto Day.

The county is requesting feedback after the election to submit a required report to the state that includes statements and opinions from voters, minority group representatives, and organizations serving individuals with disabilities. Voters may submit a written statement or participate in an online survey listed under “Polling Location Feedback” at: https:// www.co.colorado.tx.us/page/colorado.

Elections

On the Ballot Weimar

For Weimar, Christina Behrens and Clayton Langhoff will face off for Weimar city council member place 4. Both candidates are non-incumbents.

Behrens is a 1994 graduate of Flatonia ISD, has earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and previously served on a planning and zoning commission. She currently works as a customer relations manager for Seybro Door and Weatherstrip.

“I am committed to supporting law enforcement and improving essential infrastructure—from water systems and streets to modernizing power lines to meet today’s needs and demands of tomorrow,” Behrens wrote in a political ad in the Weimar Mercury.

Langhoff was born and raised in Weimar and graduated from Texas A&M University in 2016. He currently works as a project manager for Metropolitan Custom Homes. In a Facebook post, Langhoff said his focus will be improving infrastructure, making smart and responsible budget decisions and “ensuring Weimar’s money is spent on true necessities that benefit our residents.”

“I believe new businesses deserve a real chance to succeed here in Weimar. Supporting smart growth means more opportunity, more local jobs, and a stronger tax base that benefits us all,” Langhoff said. “But progress can’t come at the expense of our infrastructure. We can’t ignore the water issues and aging systems that affect our daily lives — they need real attention, real solutions, and real accountability.”

Kyle Christen and Carlton Tucker are unopposed on the ballot for council member place 2 and mayor, respectively.

Eagle Lake

Robert “Bob” Craig and Anthony Johnson will face off for the mayorship that will be vacated by current mayor Tim Kelley.

Craig was raised in Missouri City, Texas, and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Houston. He has previously served as a vice president at JP Morgan Bank and currently leads his own oil and gas business. Craig also serves as the vice president of the Eagle Lake Lions Club and as a member of the Eula & David Wintermann Library board of directors.

In a flyer posted to his Facebook, Craig listed out his priorities: “revitalize and strengthen downtown to support local businesses and attract new investment, increase revenue opportunities at the municipal airport, reduce the tax burden on seniors and veterans [and] expand opportunities for affordable and low-income housing.”

Johnson was born and raised in Eagle Lake and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is currently the small business owner of Cuts by Anthony Johnson.

“I am running for mayor because our city deserves accountability, transparency, and meaningful change,” Johnson said in a Facebook post. “I am committed to listening, leading with integrity, and working hard for every citizen of Eagle Lake.”

Three current councilmembers— Randy Turner, Abel “Billy” Sosa and Amy Maxwell—will compete for two city council seats.

Turner was chosen by Kelley and appointed to city council in August, filling the vacancy left by the late Jim Wood. He previously ran against four others for three council seats in May 2025 but came in fourth. Previously from Spring, Turner moved to Eagle Lake in the past three years and currently works as a house flipper.

Sosa was newly elected in 2024. Sosa has frequently advocated public engagement and input, notably regarding recruitment and retention for law enforcement. He has also highlighted the importance of youth in Eagle Lake when considering infrastructure for public recreation and wanting to encourage people to stay instead of moving away after high school.

Maxwell has served on the council since May 2021 and currently as Mayor Pro-Tem. Raised in Huntsville, she earned her MBA in information technology and marketing from Houston Christian University in 2002. Maxwell helped found Maxwell’s Meat Market in 2019 and currently works as its vice president and manager.

Rice CISD

Incumbent Chriss Schiurring and Erik Thormaehlen will battle for place 6 board trustee for Rice Consolidated Independent School District.

Schiurring was unopposed and newly elected in 2023. He is a rice farmer, hunter and frequent supporter of the Cody Thompson Memorial fund and other local fundraisers.

“We have made tremendous progress at RCISD and still have many things to accomplish moving forward,” Schiurring said in a Facebook post. “There is always room for improvement and every board member is dedicated to all of the kids in our district.”

Thormaehlen is from Bay City and majored in history at University of Texas San Antonio. He previously served on the board for Boerne ISD and recently quit as a history teacher and cross-country coach at Rice CISD after three years. In his campaigning Facebook posts, Thormaehlen said he seeks stability through changing athletic leadership after over 60 different coaches, many of whom were also teachers, that have come and gone in the past four years.

“One great teacher after the next, right out the door, purely due to toxic mismanagement and chaos from the top of the athletic department,” Thormaehlen wrote. “…Even after leaving Rice CISD, I have continued showing up—attending games, meets, performances, writing letters of recommendation, and supporting seniors through graduation. These kids have lost too many mentors. No future class should endure the instability they have faced.”

Jennifer Rodgers is unopposed on the ballot as the incumbent for place 7 board trustee.

Yesterday, the SAS 8th grade visited the Holocaust Museum in Houston, to learn how hatred and prejudice led to atrocities and suffering. The museum strives to educate visitors, becoming a national voice for human rights and social justice. Tomorrow, second and third graders will visit Main Street Theater to see a production of The Best School Year Ever, based on the book by Barbara Robinson.

The SAS One-Act Play cast and crew have been perfecting their craft over the last couple of months in preparation for their competition in Austin this coming Saturday at Brentwood Christian School. Led by directors Vickie Glynn and Sharon Hajovsky, they will perform The Light in the Library by Ken Stone.

The cast will perform for SAS families tomorrow at 6pm. The One-Act Play cast consists of Keaton Watkins, Bella Lowe, Emma Fitzgerald, Carson Crosby, Colson Glueck, Abigail Wolters, Brynn Pilat, John Neal, Charley McBride, Maddie Wright, Raelynn Schulte, Madeline Decker, Natalie Glueck, Owen Henneke, Matthias Walla, Cormac Barten, Kyle Glueck and Kimber Nelson. Crew members are Indy Espinosa and Kaden Glueck.

SAS students in 5K through 8th grade had their artwork displayed at the first Annual SAS Art Exhibit at the Live Oak Art Center last Thursday. Gallery visitors enjoyed refreshments while browsing the Saints’ creations.

This week in sports… Saints soccer takes on St. Michael today at 5:30 and will host St. Joseph on Monday at 5:30 on Cardinal Field. The SAS golfers will participate in a tournament at the Weimar Golf Course on Monday starting at 9 a.m. The SAS tennis team will scrimmage with CJHS on Tuesday, April 28 at 3:45, and then play in a mini-tourney on the CHS courts on Wednesday, April 29.

This past Monday, SAS 6th graders held their annual International Feast. The gym was full of students offering samples of flavorful goodies from different countries around the world. Each participant displayed facts and welcomed guests while dressed the part.

Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open! Application for enrollment can be made by visiting the Admissions page on the school website at www. stanthonycolumbus.net.

Upcoming events: 8th Grade Bishop’s Awards @OLV in Victoria on April 27 at 7 p.m. All are welcome at Children’s Mass each Friday at 8:15 a.m.

“Show us, LORD, your love; grant us your salvation.”

[PS 85:8]

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will vote to approve an application from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to loosen restrictions and monitoring of coal byproducts from the Fayette Power Project in a meeting, Thursday, April 30, in Austin.

Located between La Grange and Ellinger, the Fayette Power Project (FPP) discharges its wastewater with coal byproducts to Lake Fayette, ditches, ponds and tributaries directly connected to Cedar Creek and the Colorado River. LCRA operates under a permit issued by TCEQ that outlines limits on pollutants, monitoring procedures and other regulations. In May 2025, LCRA submitted a request to TCEQ to amend various parts of the permit’s regulations.

Primarily, LCRA requested for the limits on selenium to be removed completely. Selenium is a toxic material produced in coal ash that will bioaccumulate, or build up in organisms faster than they can process and excrete it. As selenium and other bioaccumulative chemicals move up the food chain, like from soil to plants to cattle or people, the concentration exponentially increases.

“The decision to apply a selenium limit to the coal pile runoff discharges…were made without specific knowledge of whether the coal would be a significant source of selenium or not,” LCRA wrote in its application. “Many years of monitoring data have demonstrated that the coal pile wastestream is not a significant source of selenium.”

However, Jerry Moerbe, a Fayette County resident with around 50 years of executive engineering and operational oversight in the oil and gas sector, claims LCRA’s raw data from groundwater monitoring wells tells a different story. Moerbe said all 23 wells have pollutant levels that exceed the permit’s and federal limits. These pollutants include cobalt, arsenic, lithium and selenium.

“The raw data shows us exactly what toxic metals are leaking straight out of the coal ash ponds and into our local groundwater right now,” Moerbe said. “The LCRA’s final calculations use a math trick called dilution, which blends the pollution with massive amounts of river water on paper to make the numbers look much smaller.”

Fayette County resident Elizabeth Parry has experienced a direct impact from high selenium levels— the partial amputation of her cat’s paw. Parry lives about five miles away from FPP and relies on well water. After finding embedded crystalline material in her cat’s paw accompanied by lesions and chronic inflammation, she had medical pathology and heavy metal testing conducted on the cat that revealed elevated selenium levels.

“This proves that toxic, inorganic silica has physically coated the soil of my property,” Parry wrote in a formal hearing request to TCEQ. “The daily ground contact with this deposited coal ash has caused severe physical damage, necessitating the amputation of one toe, with the ongoing risk of requiring a full pad amputation.”

Moerbe said the leeching of toxic chemicals from the wastewater and unlined ash pits will result in “perpetual contamination” and significantly threaten the agricultural and ranching industries nearby rural communities rely on.

LCRA additionally requested to reduce testing of certain pollutants and levels from weekly to once a month under the same reasoning. The change would reduce yearly testing by 77%.

On Nov. 4, 2025, LCRA published a required notice in the Fayette County Record that officially opened the public commenting period for one month. During this time, the public can submit their opinions and requests for a public informational meeting. TCEQ attached to the April 30 meeting agenda 24 unique comments and requests between July 21, 2025, and March 5, 2026. Notable submitters include Fayette County Judge Dan Mueller, Republican candidate for Texas House District 85 Dennis Geesamann, Moerbe and Parry.

“The Fayette Power Project has long been a matter of significant public interest in our community, concerns have always existed about its potential impact on our local environment, air quality, and water resources,” Mueller wrote in a letter dated Sept. 16, 2025. “Any proposed changes to the environmental standards affecting this faci l ity must be made with full transparency and with the direct input of the people who will be most affected by these decisions.”

Following the closure of public comment, TCEQ Executive Director Kelly Keel responded to the comments and sent a final notice on Jan. 23. TCEQ continued to accept formal requests for a public hearing until March 4. However, Keel determined that the 13 timely requests did not meet the legal standards to warrant a hearing and recommended for the TCEQ Commissioners to deny “These individuals are not affected persons… because the address provided in the Requests are not in proximity to any relevant features of the existing facility, and are not along any of the four discharge routes,” Keel wrote. “The Requests from the 13 individuals raised issues only in defense of the public at large and did not personalize their affectedness and failed to establish a personal justiciable interest.”

Current Texas House District 85 representative Stan Kitzman originally filed a request for a public hearing on Oct. 14, 2025, but withdrew it two weeks later on Oct. 30 without a documenting a reason. Moerbe said Kitzman gave him various reasons for doing so with his final one being that he didn’t want l iberals to protest the Commissioners’ meeting.

Mueller, Parry and one other filed requests for reconsideration that Keel also recommended denying since the requests contained the same information previously provided.

The application, hearing requests and requests for reconsideration will now go before the TCEQ Commissioners for a vote on April 30—nine days away. According to TCEQ Chief Clerk Laurie Gharis, the commissioners will not hear oral argument or additional comments regarding LCRA’s application at the meeting. The commissioners are expected to approve LCRA’s permit.

“The TCEQ may have denied our formal legal hearing by claiming local citizens aren’t ‘affected,’ but this fight is simply shifting to higher ground,” Moerbe said. “Our immediate next steps involve bypassing the state and escalating this to the federal level, including an active [Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)] Whistleblower investigation into the LCRA’s hidden financial liabilities and direct [Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] enforcement of the federal coal ash rules. Simultaneously, Fayette County leadership is actively exploring local enforcement options, ensuring that if the state of Texas refuses to protect our water and property, the county and the federal government will.”

The Daughters of American Revolution, John Everett Chapter 6049TX, Sons of the American Revolution, Robert Rankin Chapter #62, and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1127 have designated a beautiful live oak tree which is estimated to be 250 years in age that adorns the Columbus City Veterans Park located at 120 Veterans Drive to represent the county’s Liberty Tree.

The original Liberty Tree was a famous elm tree located in Boston, Massachusetts, planted in 1646, that became a gathering spot for patriots who grew in their annoyance and resistance to the rule of Britain over the American colonies. The tree was cut down by British Loyalists in 1775 thinking that it would quell the frequent protest. Other towns began naming their own liberty trees as the American Revolution began to develop.

“We have decided to designate a Liberty Tree in Columbus,” said Robert Lowe, one of the organizers of the event. “That piece of history has spread across the United States. We decided to choose a tree that was already grown instead of planting a new one. This tree is over 200 years old and we have a plaque that we will place near the tree. We already have numerous monuments out in the park “ As the country approaches July 4, 2026, and the 250th birthday of our Declaration of Independence from Britain, many communities are planting or designating Liberty Trees as a symbol of the founding of the United States of America.

The public is invited to the dedication ceremony being held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, at the City Veterans Park. A special plaque will be unveiled, and Columbus Mayor Lori An Gobert will read her proclamation.

The Columbus High School band will provide patriotic music, and the CHS shop class created the stand upon which the plaque will be attached. The color guard will be composed of members of VVA 1127 and Sons of the American Revolution.

Local dignitaries such as Colorado County Judge, sheriff, and council members are being invited and urged to attend.

Owned by Kerrville, KPUB services over 24,000 customers across the city, Center Point, Ingram, Hunt and surrounding areas in Kerr County. The plant will strategically generate power during high demand and prices and allow KPUB to purchase lower- cost power under favorable market prices. KPUB’s General Manager and CEO Mike Witter said providing the lowest responsible price for utility services was the project’s driving factor.

“As we’ve looked into the future, we’ve had to navigate an increasingly complex and volatile energy market,” Witter said. “Controlling costs for our customers requires us to be proactive, and this project is a key part of that.”

The company chose Colorado County to build its newest power generation plant due to access to natural gas sources that Kerrville lacks, existing infrastructure from the neighboring plant operated by KPUB’s partner Sky Global and the proximity to the state’s four major natural gas pipelines.

“Simply put, this plant will run more here than it would in Kerrville because it’s needed more here,” Witter said. “It will be called on more often, which means it will generate more value for both our customers and for the broader Texas grid than it would if it were located in Kerrville.”

Powered by natural gasfired reciprocating internal combustion engines, the plant can be turned on quickly, not rely on other power sources and operate during extreme weather conditions. KPUB’s plant will be modeled after the Sky Global plant, which reached 99.6% availability during Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and the resulting mass statewide outages.

“This facility is designed to be clean, efficient and reliable,” Witter said. “It uses fast start technology that allows it to respond quickly when the grid needs support. And importantly, it uses minimal water, which we know is an important consideration in any community.”

Witter said the KPUB is committed to being a good neighbor, transparent and reflective of community values. KPUB set June 2027 as the target date for commercial operations. Columbus Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shelley Janik welcomed KPUB during opening remarks.

“On behalf of the Columbus Chamber, we are excited for you,” Janik said. “We are excited to have you as our member to help us grow as a chamber and plus also support you in your new endeavor here.”

More information about the plant can be found at the website: www.kpub. com/power

Quezada was sentenced last week in a plea deal and was also convicted of assault of public servant and sentenced to 10 years to run concurrently. Quezada was convicted of the shooting death of Mitchell Levard Austin, 37, May 17 in Columbus. He will not be eligible for parole for 22 years.

Quezada was arrested and charged in the death of Austin May 19, 2025 after the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force tracked Quezada III to a hotel in Houston and arrested him without incident.

Quezada was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Austin. Columbus Police responded to a call at the Economy Inn and Suites in the 1100 block of Walnut Street about gunshots being fired on Saturday, May 17 and found Austin had been shot multiple times at 11:30 p.m. He was transported to Columbus Community Hospital where he died shortly after arriving there.

In connection with the killing, Columbus P.D. obtained an arrest warrant for 18-year-old Columbus man Quezada III for the offense of murder. Detectives from the agency contacted investigators with the Colorado County Sherriff’s Office, who relayed the information to the Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force.

Area Reporter Allison Drinnon contributed to this story.

Scooter ordinance

The council approved an amendment to a city ordinance regarding motor- assisted scooters that will prohibit their usage on city sidewalks, parks and on streets with speed limits more than 35 miles per hour. City Manager Charles Tink Jackson said the amendment aims to reduce the number of children dangerously playing in the streets that have resulted in complaints from residents and city staff.

“Under this ordinance, it allows them to ride on a street that the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less, so they couldn’t be on [Highway 90], McCarty,” Jackson said. “…And they have to stay on the right side of the road. They can’t be in the middle of the road or the middle of a lane.”

Jackson clarified that children riding motorized scooters must abide by traffic laws and street closures. He said an ordinance violation would result in a $500 fine. Jackson and councilmember Billy Sosa both said the ordinance and fines reduce the risk of a child fatality.

Public notifications

At the request of counci lmember Amy Maxwel l, saleswoman Emily Goczan presented a demo on GOGov, a software for local governments to send notifications, present city resources, facilitate requests and licensing forms and more. Maxwell proposed the topic of a public notification system at the last council meeting and introduced the topic again.

“I think it’s something that’s much needed in our community, especially because we don’t have a newspaper and we don’t really have a way to communicate any information about the city if it’s government-related or if it’s event-related or business- related,” Maxwell said.

GOGov wi l l create a city-branded mobile app for Eagle Lake with an extensive notification system and applets, or built-in website pages featuring city information, public forms, event details, maps and more. The app would be free for all to download on IOS or Android and utilize. Push notifications would not require creating an account, but text, phone call or email notifications would require registration to store contact information and customize notification settings and groups.

“I don’t have Facebook, so I don’t get any of the information from Eagle Lake, so this would be a good idea,” Maria Castillo, a resident in the audience, said. “…I’d get to know what’s going on, and it’s awesome that they would give you reminders for the city council meetings.”

The city currently utilizes different software for residents to receive notifications and pay their water bills, but it does not include the same level of features or notification options. GOGov would cost the city around $4,300 from an undecided existing fund. City Secretary Lina Ferguson said she wanted to present another vendor, TextMyGov, for consideration at the next meeting, and the council agreed.

Staffing

Sosa and Jackson debated about Sosa’s request for assistance from the city’s public works department for maintaining the city-owned golf course. Sosa requested one public works employee to work on the course one day per week for however many hours the worker could be available. The city provides the course with $65,000 a year for funding maintenance and other work, but Sosa said the amount does not stretch far enough.

“We are having more and more tournaments out there because of the condition of the golf course, and we are doing it with zero employees from the city – volunteer work,” Sosa said. “…It’s making money but not to suffice our fuel, fertilizer, manpower…We need a little bit more thought.”

Jackson provided the council with a memo of his thoughts and shared his overall opinion. He noted that public works added 40 acres of land to maintain last year and will gain around 70 more acres once the land swap finalizes.

“Those guys have got more on their plate than they can handle as it is, and now we are asking them to do something else,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the public works department has an agreement to mow three times a year, but Sosa said the city has never followed through. Sosa said the operators are considering raising the fees but are afraid of scaring off players. The council agreed the golf course should strive to be self-sustaining, and Sosa asked for the city to demonstrate intent and effort towards helping.

Earlier, Maxwell proposed creating a parttime airport manager position to promote economic development, facilitate grants and more. The position would theoretical ly be added in the next fiscal year and after the land swap is finalized. Jackson countered that future grants and projects have been planned or will be managed by the Texas Department of Transportation. Councilmember Randy Turner suggested partnering with a local college or utilizing an internship program to fill the position. Kelley and council agreed that the airport’s primary focus should be filling its empty hangars.

Other

The installation of a traffic light on Highway 90 and McCarty Lane is pending a small land purchase from the Dairy Queen. After the land purchase, the city will move a fire hydrant and reroute an existing water line. Jackson estimated construction to begin in March 2027.

The Eagle Lake Community Garden will be tidied up for the spring season on Saturday, April 25. Volunteers will construct a new storage shed, prune winter overgrowth and plant produce.

The council discussed creating architectural design standards brought up by Turner. After consulting with the city attorney, Jackson said the city can designate specific areas based on architectural type, cultural construction components or historical significance. He encouraged council members to start considering specific areas to designate.

The council received updated scopes of work to turn the old bank building into a new city office space that would go to bid pending approval. Maxwell wanted to review the documents more closely, so no action was taken.

This team made the playoffs and lost in the Bi-District round to Poth, but despite this they still earned some All-District Honors.

Six players from the Raiders team this season were named as part of the All-District team starting with an individual award. Jeremiah Grounds was named the Sixth Man of the Year this season.

Grounds was a great option off the bench for the Raiders this season because he was very productive. Whenever he touched the floor, he impacted the game either offensively or defensively and played a big role in the Raiders’ success this season.

The First All-District team saw three Raiders named, and they were Jireh Cobia, AJ Jenkins and Kordae Johnson. These three were a big part of the Raiders’ offense this season and were relied on heavily for their scoring touch.

Cobia and Johnson were a dynamic duo at the guard position as they moved the ball well and made a lot of plays. But they also knew how to drive to the basket and score easy lay-ups.

As for Jenkins, his paint presence is what sets him apart from the rest. He secured countless rebounds and second chance opportunities for the Raiders this season, and that helped him earn a spot on the First All-District team.

The Second All-District team saw two Raiders named, and they were Avan Woolridge and DJ Amos. These two were also relied on for scoring, but they made a big impact on defense, using their size, speed and smarts to thwart any scoring opportunity the opposition thought they had.

Woolridge also made a big impact on the rebounding category for the Raiders as his length in the paint led to many scoring chances for the Raiders this season.

The Raiders basketball season is officially over and now look ahead to next season where they hope to push even deeper into the playoffs.

Quezada was sentenced last week and was also convicted of assault of public servant. Quezada was convicted of the shooting death of Mitchell Levard Austin, 37, May 17 in Columbus. 

Read more in the April 22 edition of the Colorado County Citizen. 

Wednesday, April 15 | 9 a.m. – 3:20 p.m. | Eagle Lake Community Center, 100 N Walnut St | Eagle Lake Rose Mobile Mammography will provide screenings to those who meet the following requirements: 40+ years old, no breast symptoms or problems, have a doctor’s order, no breast cancer in past five years, no mammogram in last 12 months. For questions or to schedule, call the Colorado County Department of State Health Services at (979) 732-3663.

Lunch and Learn: Epiphytes, Mosses and Lichen Wednesday, April 15 | noon – 1 p.m. | Colorado County Services, 305 Radio Ln | Columbus Hosted by the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association. Attendees are asked to bring their own lunch. Light refreshments including coffee, tea and snacks will be provided. No preregistration is required for this free program.

Kids in Business Market

Saturday, April 18 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 106 W Market St | Weimar Join Weimar’s Farmers Market for a fun, family-friendly farmers market featuring local vendors plus kid vendors showcasing their creativity and learning what it’s like to run a small business.

Columbus Blood Drive

Saturday, April 18 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | City Council Chambers, 605 Spring St | Columbus Hosted with Gulf Coast Blood. Appointments preferred by walk ins welcome. Sponsor code: CCBS.

Crawfish and Shrimp Boil

Saturday, April 18 | 4–8 p.m. | The Rez 1908, 312 E Main St | Eagle Lake Join The Rez 1908 in downtown Eagle Lake for a laid-back evening of great food, cold drinks, and live music by Russell Mayes!

Eagle Lake Rabies Vaccination Clinic Thursday, April 23 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Community Center Pavilion, 100 N Walnut Ave | Eagle Lake Wharton Veterinary Clinic will conduct vaccinations for dogs and cats and will also offer flea control and dewormer. Rabies vaccines cost $16; NexGard costs $35; and dewormer costs $20. Reminder that Eagle Lake city ordinances require all dogs to have current rabies vaccination and to be registered.

Author Ariel Slick and “The Devil Take the Blues” Thursday, April 23 | 6–7 p.m. | The Story Peddler, 538 W Main St | Bellville Southern Gothic author Ariel Slick invites readers to experience blues music as the antidote to hatred and love as the challenge to control with her new novel “The Devil Take the Blues” at an author event featuring an excerpt reading, audience Q&A and book signings.

Poetry Open Mic Night

Thursday, April 23 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. | Weimar City Gazebo, 1 Jackson Square | Weimar Join Weimar Public Library and community at the gazebo for poetry open mic. All ages welcome.

80s and 90s Night at Urban Saloon Saturday, April 25 | 9 p.m. – midnight | Urban Saloon, 523 Walnut St | Columbus GenXs is bringing back the songs that raised us — from Bon Jovi and The Black Crowes to Van Halen and everything in between. Enjoy a live band, cold drinks and high energy crowd for loud, nostalgic, sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs kind of fun.

DIY Mat Painting Class

Sunday, April 26 | 1–3 p.m. | Hound Song Brewing Co. 525 Walnut St | Columbus Join Juarez Kreationz for a fun afternoon where you’ll learn how to paint your own doormat! All supplies will be provided, and colors are customizable. Register online.

Weimar Library Book Sale

Saturday, May 2 | 8 a.m. – noon | Weimar Public Library, 1 Jackson Square | Weimar Annual Friends of the Library book sale.

Robert Michael Johnson to Park Place on Travis LLC Altair Main Street Series — General Warranty Deed covering Lot 7, Block D, Stafford Ranch Altair Subdivision, City of Altair — filed Jan. 27.

Robert Michael Johnson to Park Place on Travis LLC Altair West Street Series — General Warranty Deed covering Lots 1-2, Block D, Stafford Ranch Altair Subdivision, City of Altair — filed Jan. 27.

Jack F. Cochran and Suzanne A. Cochran to Kveton Property LLC — Special Warranty Deed covering 18.951 acres, M.A. Posey Survey — filed Jan. 28.

Frank Kovar to Cassondra Olsen and Joseph Olsen — Warranty Deed covering 4.981 acres, J.T. Daniels Survey — filed Jan. 28.

Peter Keierleber and Suzie Benavides to Siegfried Keierleber and Ursula Keierleber — General Warranty Gift Deed covering 39.047 acres, Henry Austin Five League Grant — filed Jan. 28.

John Walker Houchins to Henry L. Beken — General Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien covering 109.478 acres, Lewis R. Chaney Survey — filed Jan. 28.

Doyle Frank Dittmar to Patricia S. Locke — Warranty Deed covering 0.1393 acre, Lot 11, Block 41, City of Columbus — filed Jan. 28.

Cora B. Hobizal to Jacob R. Horton and Merina Horton — Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien covering Lots 10 & 12, Block 75, Garrett Subdivision, Weimar — filed Jan. 29.

His & Hers Properties LLC to Michael A. Piwetz and Linda K. Piwetz — General Warranty Deed covering Lots 2 & 3, Block K, Columbus — filed Jan. 29.

Big Easy Ranch Development LLC to CIPI LLC — Special Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien covering Unit 9, Big Easy Ranch Lakeside Cabins — filed Jan. 29.

Hawthorne Land LLC to Joel De Jesus Diaz Gonzalez and Beatriz Elizabeth Diaz — Special Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien covering 13.607 acres, Samuel Kennelly League — filed Jan. 29.

Viper Fuels LLC to ICMF 2549 Hwy 71 LLC — Special Warranty Deed covering 2.3654 acres, Elizabeth Tumlinson Survey — filed Jan. 30.

KKP Real Estate Management LLC to Viper Fuels LLC — Special Warranty Deed covering 2.3654 acres, Elizabeth Tumlinson Survey — filed Jan. 30.

Kelly Gene McDaniel and Victor Lee McDaniel to William Brian Hinojosa — Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien covering various tracts, Asa Townsend Survey et al — filed Jan. 30.

Larry Lee Carroll to OCR1 LLC — Special Warranty Deed covering various tracts, H.T. & B.RR Survey et al — filed Jan. 30.

Peggy Debolt and Patrice Roper to Ariosto Alvarez — Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien covering 9.006 acres, J.M. Steiner Survey — filed Jan. 30.

Narvin B. Koehn and Karen A. Koehn, Trustees of the Koehn Family Trust, to Koehn Family Trust — General Warranty Deed covering Block 3, Lots 5–8 and part of Lots 4 & 9, City of Weimar — filed Jan. 30.

Narvin B. Koehn and Karen A. Koehn, Trustees of the Koehn Family Trust, to Koehn Family Trust — General Warranty Deed covering 87.258 acres, F. Pettus et al — filed Jan. 30.

Jerry L. Pustejovsky and Donna Pustejovsky to Brian Keith Fleming and Diana Castillo Fleming — Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien covering Lot 8, Block 70, Town of Sheridan — filed Jan. 30.

Mark A. Kloesel and Shannon S. Kloesel to Thomas Chase Seelke and Ashley Seelke — General Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien covering 0.358 acre, Henry Austin Five League Grant — filed Jan. 30.

Emil Martinez, Jesse Martinez, Ruben Martinez, Josephine Adame, Mary Espinosa, Albina Henderson, Susan Martinez and Lucy Martinez to Wilber H. Barrientos and Gonzalo A. Barrientos — General Warranty Deed covering 0.2927 acre, Henry Austin Survey — filed Jan. 30.

Javier Lopez and Heidi Lopez to Old Texas Properties LLC — General Warranty Deed covering 0.119 acre, Patrick Reels Survey, City of Eagle Lake — filed Jan. 30.

Adam Lee Sonntag, Karissa Kaye Sonntag, Jake Alan Wimberley and Katie Rhodes Wimberley to Capital Farm Credit ACA — General Warranty Deed filed February 3.

James Michael Higgins, Natalie Higgins and Richard Lee Higgins Jr to Tierra De Higgins LLC — General Warranty Deed filed February 3.

Petríta Yberra and Patsy Posada to John Yberra and Petríta Yberra — Special Warranty Deed filed February 3.

JAN. 10, 2026

At 12:10 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 1400 block of Walnut St in reference to a suspicious person. The subject was gone upon arrival.

At 12:20 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 200 block of King Dr in reference to a suspicious person. The subject was located and all was found to be in order.

At 4:41 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 1000 block of Walnut St in reference to an escort.

At 11:42 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the 1200 block of Walnut St in reference to a possible disturbance. After further investigation all was found to be in order.

At 11:42 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the 1200 block of Walnut St in reference to a possible disturbance. After further investigation, the subject was located, issued a criminal trespass warning, and removed from the property.

JAN. 11, 2025

At 2:24 am Ofc. Avalos responded to the intersection of Columbus Loop and Radio Ln in reference to a vehicle accident. A crash report was completed.

At 5:15 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the 900 block of Martin Luther King St in reference to a possible disturbance. After further investigation, all was found to be in order.

JAN. 12, 2026

At 5:40 Am Ofc. Salinas responded to the 800 block of Spring St in reference to a possible disturbance. After further investigation, all was found to be in order.

At 10:48 am Ofc. Salinas responded to the 2200 block of Hwy 71 in reference to an assault. After further investigation, Marc Anthony Perez, James Kazmir, and Jonathon Norris, all of Columbus, were arrested for assault and engaging in organized criminal activity and were transported to the Colorado County Detention Center.

At 2:43 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 1500 block of Montezuma St in reference to an escort.

At 3:23 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 1400 block of Travis St in reference to an animal complaint. The animal was not located.

At 11:38 pm Lt. Lara responded to the 3500 block of US-90 in reference to a vehicle accident. A crash report was completed.

JAN. 13, 2026

At 11:57 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the intersection of Hwy 71 and Crossroads Blvd in reference to a vehicle accident. A crash report was completed.

At 10:18 am Ofc. Salinas responded to the 400 block of Spring St in reference to a 911 hang-up. The officer arrived and learned it was accidental.

JAN. 14, 2026

At 1:16 am Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 1400 block of Walnut St in reference to an alarm. The building was found secure.

At 1:57 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 100 block of Shult Dr in reference to a suspicious person. The subject was gone upon arrival.

At 4:25 pm Sgt. Wilson responded to the 1500 block of Montezuma St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

JAN. 15, 2026

At 10:55 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 1100 block of Milam in reference to an escort.

At 11:19 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 900 block of Walnut St in reference to a welfare concern. After further investigation, Johnny Vasquez Jr and Jennifer Gonzalez of Columbus were arrested for public intoxication and were transported to the Colorado County Detention Center.

At 6:19 pm Ofc. Haman responded to the 1400 block of Milam St in reference to a suspicious person. The subject was located and all was found to be in order.

JAN. 16, 2026

At 8:25 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 1400 block of Prairie St in reference to an animal complaint. After further investigation, the owner was identified and given a written citation for a dog at large.

At 8:45 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 600 Spring St in reference to possible harassment. Information was received.

At 12:05 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 1600 block of Bowie St in reference to an escort.

At 12:44 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 2200 block of Hwy 71 in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 5:19 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 2100 block of Milam St in reference to an animal complaint. The animal was located, and all was found to be in order.

At 5:48 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 1400 block of Fannin St in reference to an animal complaint. The animal was not located.

At 9:11 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 100 block of Marilyn St in reference to a welfare concern. After further investigation all was found to be in order.

JAN. 17, 2026

At 3:33 am Ofc. Haman responded to the 1400 block of Walnut St in reference to an alarm. The building was found secure.

JAN. 18, 2026

At 11:59 am Ofc. Salinas responded to the 1200 block of Live Oak St in reference to a suspicious activity. After further investigation all was found to be in order. At 12:11 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 1000 block of New World Dr in reference to a possible disturbance. After further investigation, the subjects were separated and removed from the property.

At 7:50 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the 100 block of Shult Dr in reference to an alarm. The building was found secure.

JAN. 19, 2026

At 9:55 am Ofc. Salinas responded to the 2200 block of Walnut St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 10:41 am Ofc. Salinas responded to the 600 block of Spring St in reference to possible criminal mischief. After further investigation, all was found to be in order.

At 11:59 am Ofc. Salinas responded to the 100 block of Shult Dr in reference to an unwanted person. The subject was located and removed from the property.

At 1:00 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 2200 block of Walnut St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 2:58 pm Ofc. Salinas responded to the 600 block of Spring St in reference to possible harassment. Information was received.

At 3:26 pm Lt. Lara responded to the 800 block of Rampart St in reference to an animal complaint. The animal was located and taken to the city pound.

At 5:09 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 900 block of Walnut St in reference to a vehicle accident. A crash report was completed.

JAN. 20, 2026

At 1:52 pm Ofc. Pospisil responded to the 1500 block of Montezuma St in reference to an escort.

JAN. 21, 2026

At 6:45 pm Ofc. Haman responded to the 2400 block of Hwy 71 in reference to a possible assault. After further investigation, Leonardo Villegas of Columbus was arrested for assault family violence and was taken to the Colorado County Detention Center.

JAN. 22, 2026

At 3:24 am Ofc. Haman responded to the 1200 block of Montezuma St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 4:39 am Ofc. Haman responded to the 400 block of Front St in reference to an animal complaint. The animal was not located.

At 1:50 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 100 block of Shult Dr in reference to a wanted person. After further investigation, Sharrod Guinn was arrested on a Harris County warrant and was taken to the Colorado County Detention Center.

At 8:35 pm Sgt. Wilson responded to the 1500 block of Montezuma St in reference to a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle was located, and all was found to be in order.

At 9:57 pm Ofc. Haman responded to the 800 block of Walnut St in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was located, and all was found to be in order.

At 10:38 pm Ofc. Haman responded to the 2400 block of Hwy 71 in reference to an unwanted person. The subject was gone upon arrival.

JAN. 23, 2026

At 6:32 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 1400 block of Rampart St in reference to a welfare concern. The subject was located and all was found to be in order.

At 8:36 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 1400 block of Fannin St in reference to lost property. Information was received.

At 10:34 am Sgt. Neumann responded to the 1000 block of Milam St in reference to a suspicious person. The subject was gone upon arrival.

At 12:22 pm Sgt. Neumann responded to the 1200 block of Montezuma St in reference to possible harassment. Information was received.

At 2:15 pm Sgt. Wilson responded to the 800 block of Martin Luther King St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 3:35 pm Sgt. Wilson responded to the 2100 block of Milam St in reference to a civil matter. Advice was given.

At 3:51 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the 200 block of North St in reference to possible reckless driving. The vehicle was not located.

At 4:27 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the 500 block of Walnut St in reference to a wanted person. The subject was located and removed from the property.

At 4:42 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the 600 block of Fannin St in reference to an animal complaint. The animal was located and all was found to be in order.

At 5:21 pm Ofc. Avalos responded to the intersection of Walnut and Legion in reference to a 911 hang-up. Officers arrived and learned that no emergency services were needed.

At 5:46 Ofc. Avalos responded to the 1400 block of Fannin St in reference to possible theft. After further investigation, a subject was located, given a criminal trespass warning, and received a citation.

At 10:20 pm Sgt. Wilson responded to the 1500 block of Milam St in reference to a vehicle complaint. The vehicle was not located.

DISCLAIMER

Arrest and court records are public information, and the press has the right to publish them under the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

It is important to note that an arrest should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Some facts about Turtle Wing Foundation: - Turtle Wing is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission of helping individuals with learning challenges in rural areas reach their full potential.

- Turtle Wing funds the necessary services for over 350 individuals and their families annually - In the last ten years alone, Turtle Wing has funded over 2 million dollars in services, paying for over 100,000 sessions To contribute to the mission (and help us meet our match), you can donate online at turtlewingfoundation. org or by mailing to PO Box 631, Schulenburg. Donations are tax deductible.

For more information on the foundation, reach out to Executive Director Destiny Siptak at destiny@turtlewingfoundation.org