Around the Region: Regional News Digest for Sept. 6

The celebration kicks off at 10 a.m. with an open air mass at Moulton City Park Pavilion.

The traditional fare for the event, kettle-fried chicken and beef stew, will be served beginning at 10:30 a.m. Plates are available on-site or can be ordered to-go. Providing musical entertainment in the hall will be Vic and Beaver performing classic top hits.

The Picnic Auction begins at 1 p.m., featuring livestock, quilts, afghans, plants, antiques and fine crafts. A free dance featuring the Texas Legacy Band will also kick off at 1 p.m. at the KC Hall.

Quilt show set in Luling

Quilts will be on display at: The Coffee Shop, Stanley Theatre Antiques, the Central Texas Oil Patch Museum and The Watermelon Shop, 509 E. Davis Street.

For applications or information on entering a quilt, contact Luling Main Street, 421 E. Davis Street, Luling, www.lulingmainstreet.com, 512-738-0228.

SHINER — Winners in the annual Shiner Catholic Church Fall Picnic drawing have been announced.

First place wzas Debbie Bartel of Shiner, winner of a $750 gift card. Kendra Carroll of Shiner was the second-place winner of a $500 gift card.

Third place winner of a $400 gift certificate to Patek’s Grocery was Alexis Sanchez of San Antonio, while Joe Ondrey of Rosenberg and A.C. Kubecka of Shiner also won $400 gift cards.

A total of 36 cash and gift prizes were awarded in the fund-raising drawing.

A National Night Out celebration will be held for the communities of McMahan, Elm Grove and Tilman at the McMahan Women’s Club on Tuesday, Oct. 2. from 7-9 p.m.

Sheriff’s deputies will be present for question-and-answer and there will be door prizes. Caldwell County Sheriff Daniel Law will be passing through to all the Night Out Celebrations in the area.

Your National Night Out is one of many ways to meet and get to know your neighbors. Other ways available to us are through the volunteer fire department, the neighborhood watch meetings, and the McMahan’s Women’s Club activities.

Tea, water and coffee will be provided, but attendees are asked to bring finger foods. Door prizes will also be offered.

For more information, contact Phyllis Fischer at 512-644-5927.

SISD board sets tax rate at $1.04

SHINER — The Shiner ISD Board of Trustees set the district’s tax rate at $1.04 per $100 valuation for the 2012-13 schoool year during a special meeting.

The tax rate is unchanged from last year’s rate.

Trustees also passed the district budget of $5.43 million as presented by Superintendent Trey Lawrence.

In other action during the meeting, the board also approved student and staff handbooks for the year; approved the hiring of Shawnna Pohler as school nurse on a one-year contract; and approved the district’s taxable property value as appraised by the Lavaca County Appraisal District.

MISD Board cuts tax rate

MOULTON — Moulton school trustees adopted a six-cent tax decrease during their Aug. 30 meeting.

The MISD board approved a tax rate of $1.01 per $100 valuation for the 2012-13 school year, down from last year’s $1.07 rate. The Board approved a budget of $3.97 million presented by Superintendent Chad Rothbauer.

The Texas Department of Transportation announced last month it planned to reduce speed on Highway 183 from the city limits north to Highway 21 to 55 miles per hour. That decision The decision is unpopular in Lockhart, with some residents saying the move is an attempt to force them to use the new State Highway 130 tollway .

After some discussion, the council passed a resolution meant to push TxDOT to reevaluate the speed limit clause. In addition, the resolution supports a request for a special reduced rate for the toll.Caldwell County Commissioners Court entered a similar resolution last week.

In other business, the council voted to temporarily pull funding from the Caldwell County Medical Assistance Team (CCMAT). The organization has twice failed to present to the council with financial information, pending the outcome of a business meeting.

LOCKHART — Lockhart City Council called for the speed limit on US Highway 183 north of the city to be maintained at 65 miles per hour, and for the creation of a toll road to help city residents who commute into the Austin metroplex.

Zimmerman resigns as chief

MOULTON — The City of Moulton is searching for a new police chief after Mark Zimmerman tendered his resignation at the August city council meeting.

Zimmerman, who has been with the city in one capacity or another for 30 years and has been the police chief since 2007, said he plans to take a position with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.

The Republican Women of Yoakum, whose members represent DeWitt and Lavaca counties, are sponsoring a Constitution essay contest.

Senior students attending high schools, as well as 12th grade level home-schooled students in both counties, are invited to participate. Contest information packets will be delivered to the schools on September 6 and the contests ends on October 9, 2012.

Rules, requirements, and qualifications may be obtained from high school counselors and/or social studies/government departments. They may also be obtained by contacting Aileen Hybner, Essay Committee Chairwoman, at 361-293-2436.

A total of four winners will be chosen from all entries. Prizes will be awarded as follows: Grand Prize - $1,000, First Prize - $300, Second Prize - $200, and Third Prize - $100.

The grand prize includes a donation of $500 from the Teal Holland Scholarship Fund made in memory of Teal Holland by her mother, Shirley Lawhorn. We are grateful for this generous donation to the essay contest.