Nikki Maxwell/newseditor@gonzalescannon.com

More than 60 fires burned across Texas this week, with the worst in state history just half an hour from the Gonzales County border.
As the dark smoke increased above Caldwell, Gonzales, and Lavaca Counties, area law enforcement and emergency personnel were pushed to the limit, dispatched repeatedly to fight fires and prepare neighborhoods for possible evacuations.    
Firefighters throughout Gonzales County simultaneously responded to  fire calls both in and beyond county lines. 

Granny Dean May is loved by many people, evidenced by the crowd gathered at Boomer’s Sports Bar Saturday afternoon in Gonzales.
May’s family and friends organized two recent events, an auction and a BBQ plate sale, to raise money for her almost daily cancer treatment.
“Mom got sick at our family reunion in June,” said Leann Wilkerson.

There is a saying that technology is nothing without the people behind it. The Gonzales Memorial Hospital’s (GMH) Radiology Department is a great example of that colloquialism.
“I came here from a 560 bed hospital about five years ago, and we have a handpicked crew and better equipment here  than in the big city,” said Charles Harvey, Director of Radiology. “We cross-train our staff and appreciate having state of the art equipment here, which helps us serve our patients.”

Dear readers, I’ve had many DeJevu’s in my 40 years of life, but unlike those foggy “I remember being here/saying this to you before” moments which seem to evaporate like water on our 120 degree sidewalks, the one I’m experiencing now won’t go away. No matter how much I try to take my mind off of it, its still there. Because unlike a typical DeJavu’, this one is really happening. And not just to me, to our whole city.

The Gonzales Economic Development Corporation unanimously approved their small business incentive grant program Monday night.
There are currently two applicants for the grant program — Outback Bar and Grill in the Booth and Lewis Building in downtown Gonzales, which new owner Marlene Metzler plans to open this Fall, and Laurel Ridge Antiques where business owner Barbara Crozier is renovating part of the historic home to create an Inn, while maintaining her antiques and gift shop business on the ground floor.

Guests of the Gonzales County Jail who are cooling their heels in custody, will remain in a comfortable climate thanks to a new air conditioning system contract approved by the county commissioners Monday.
The county has agreed to a $42,585 one-year contract with Mtech, a company located in Austin. The maintenance agreement includes specific guidelines regarding the cost of overtime for service calls after regular business hours, and estimated response time to repair equipment.

A team of United States Marshals arrested John Walpole hiding in a home in Smiley, Friday morning.
A federal warrant was issued for Walpole’s arrest in June, charging him with a Supervised Release Violation (parole violation.) Walpole’s original charge was for ‘Felon in Possession of a Firearm,’ based on an arrest by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in 2006.

Lavaca County Justice of the Peace and  Moulton Municipal Judge Fred Nieto, Jr. was suspended and placed on unpaid administrative leave in August.
District Attorney Heather McMinn told The Cannon Wednesday that her office is working in conjunction with Texas Rangers to investigate Nieto’s business activities. Nieto owns a used car dealership in Moulton, which has been closed since January due to a revocation of his license.

The Gonzales County Commissioners Court approved an order for a local option election for the City of Smiley during their meeting Monday.
“Hopefully we’re finally going to get this done,” said Gonzales County Judge David Bird. “They (the state) changed the law right in the middle of all this.”
County Clerk Lee Reidel said the election will be an extra expense for the county this year.

The Victoria College Gonzales campus expansion plan has hit a financial speed bump due to higher than expected quotes for the million dollar project.
Last month the school told the Gonzales Economic Development Corporation they may have to delay or reduce the project.
Victoria College President Dr. Tom Butler, Gonzales Campus Director Jackie Mikesh and project director Dr. Larry Garrett, spoke with GEDC in executive session during the board’s meeting Monday, to explain the status of the project and discuss options for its completion.