TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2016
THE FAYETTE COUNTY La Grange, Texas 78945
Volume 94, Number 62
RECORD
One Dollar per Copy
INSIDE
Flatonia to State!
The Flatonia baseball team makes another comeback to vault them to the state tournament. See Page B8
For The Record Legion Meeting
The American Legion Post 102 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 102 will meet on Wednesday, June 8 at 6 p.m. at the VFW home located at 500 Veterans Memorial Drive. Auxiliary members are asked to bring sandwiches or a dessert to the meeting. New members are always welcome.
Seibert Reunion
The descendants of Casper and Emilie Zwernemann Seibert will have an 11 a.m. lunch reunion, Saturday June 11, at JW’s Steakhouse in Carmine. Bring photos and stories to share. Contact Shirley Scott at (512) 751-0422 if you can join.
Bingo in Ellinger
The Ellinger Chamber of Commerce will sponsor Bingo in Ellinger at the chamber hall. Doors open at 5 p.m. and games start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. Seventeen games will be played, plus six special games. There will be cash prizes, food and refreshments available at 5 p.m.
The members of the La Grange softball team hoist the state title trophy Saturday after downing Paris North Lamar 8-1 in the 4A title game in Austin.
State Champions!
After dominating opponents on the diamond for the last four months, the La Grange softball team continued to crush the competition in their two games at the state softball tournament. The Lady Leps downed Brownwood 7-1 Thursday in the semifinals and then Paris North Lamar Saturday in the title game to bring home the Class 4A state title, Lots more coverage in Sports, Section B.
Chief of Police to Step Down at Year’s End Granville Packing a Lot Into His 100 Years By JEFF WICK
The Fayette County Record
Twenty years as police chief is enough for Jackie Skelton. Skelton, La Grange’s Chief of Police since 1996, submitted his letter of retirement/resignation to the city last week. Horecka Reunion Skelton said the resignation The annual Horecka famis effective Dec. 23, 2016. ily reunion will be held Sat“This has not been an easy urday, June 11 at the Plum decision for me, but I feel it Parish Hall. Registration will is time that I step down. It begin at 10 a.m. A catered has been an honor to serve,” lunch will begin at 12 noon. Skelton said in his letter to the Each family is asked to bring City Manager, Mayor and City their own drinks, a desssert Council members. “Since comand an item for the auction ing on board, I have been given and drawing. For more inforthe privilege to further my camation, call (979) 242-3637. reer and education, which I will always be grateful. It has There’s more been a pleasure working with For the Record the city, its employees and to on Page A2 & A7 serve the citizens of the City of La Grange.” Skelton recently graduated with a Masters Degree from Tarleton State University and he said he has been asked This Week’s Forecast to apply at a college to teach High Low Tuesday: 90 66 criminal justice. Clear La Grange city manager Wednesday: 92 67 Shawn Raborn said he was not Clear surprised by the news as SkelThursday: 90 68 ton had been considering retir Clear Friday: 89 71 ing for some time.
WEATHER WATCH
By H.H. HOWZE
The Fayette County Record
Jackie Skelton has been the La Grange Chief of Police since 1996. Last week he informed the city of his plan to leave at the end of the year. Photo by Jeff Wick
Raborn said the city council would discuss the process of how to find a replacement for Skelton beginning at its next meeting. “This may be a six-month process,” said La Grange Mayor Janet Moerbe. “It’s not an easy job to fill.”
“I really appreciate the 20 years of dedicated service he’s given. Under his leadership the department has grown and expanded, and we will certainly miss him and wish him all the best.” Skelton is only the 12th Chief of Police since the for-
mation of the La Grange Police Department in 1888. Prior to coming to La Grange in 1996, Skelton worked for the Hallettsville Police Department for 15 years, being promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1991. Before that he was a patrolman in Alvin.
Partly cloudy
Burn Ban Is Lifted
INSIDE TODAY Religion........................ Page A4 Society......................... Page A5 Obituaries.................... Page A7 Sports.......................... Page B1 Classifieds................Page B4-6
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Photo by Jeff Wick
Locals Organizing to Fight Sludge Dumping Plan By ANDY BEHLEN The Fayette County Record
An effort by Arkansas-based Denali Water Solutions LLC to dump sewage sludge from the City of Austin in Fayette County looks like it will face some pushback from local residents. The company filed an application with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a “beneficial use permit” to spread sewage sludge as fertilizer onto about 1,660 acres of pasture land at the Banks Ranch near Ellinger, which borders the Colorado River. Fayette County Judge Ed Janecka said he wants the TCEQ to hold a public meeting on the application. A Facebook group named “Project: Save the Colorado River” established
last Wednesday, June 1, has already attracted 668 followers as of Sunday, June 5. Posts on the group page encourage followers to petition TCEQ for a hearing on the permit application. So far, the agency has received four formal hearing requests. The agen-
cy has not yet granted a public meeting for the application. Denali has not spoken publicly about the application. Last week the Record contacted The company’s Mike Cook, who is heading up the Denali’s project in Fayette County. He referred
media questions to company spokesperson Julie McNeill and provided her email address. Shortly after sending an email to McNeill on Friday morning, we received a phone call from a consultant who said See Sludge, back page
A screenshot from a promotional video by Denali Water Solutions shows one aspect of the company’s operations. To view the video, visit http://denaliwater.com/videos.php.
La Grange native Maurice “Butch” Granville turned 100 last fall on Oct. 26, 2015. According to Carol Blyberg, Granville’s daughter, her father was born in La Grange on that date in 1915. He was valedictorian at La Grange High School and attended the University of Texas in Austin. He then headed east to Cambridge, Mass., where he earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering. Granville is described by his family as a natural athlete and even at 100 still avidly follows college games. He married his wife of 69 years in January, 1945. They had two children and over the years moved from New York to Texas and then back to New York as Granville’s career with Texaco brought increasing responsibilities. He retired from Texaco as chairman of the board in 1984 and he and his wife, Janet, moved to Rockport, Maine. On Tuesday, May 23, 2016, dignitaries from the town of Rockport gathered at his home to present Granville with the Boston Post Cane, which is See Granville, back page
Carol Blyberg adds a pin to her father, Maurice “Butch” Granville’s lapel to mark the occasion of his receiving the Boston Post Cane. Photo by Chris Wolf