FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019
THE FAYETTE COUNTY La Grange, Texas 78945
INSIDE
Volume 98, Number 5
RECORD One Dollar per Copy
New Study Says Fayette One of Texas’ Healthiest Counties By ANDY BEHLEN The Fayette County Record
Fayette County ranked among the top 20 healthiest counties in Texas, according to a recent report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Foundation’s 2019 County Health Rankings Report compared health factors and health outcomes across
244 counties in Texas. Fayette County ranked 17th in health outcomes, which looked at statistics like number of days individuals were sick, premature deaths and birth weights. The study’s data reported a life expectancy rate in Fayette County of 79.2 years, slightly better than the state average of 79.0. The rate of premature
death (defined as years of potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000 population) was on par with the state average. Leading causes of death under age 75 in Fayette County were (in order of prevalence): 1) Cancer 2) Heart disease 3) Accidents from unintended injuries
4) Diabetes mellitus 5) Cerebrovascular disease such as stroke Only 16 percent of Fayette County residents reported poor or fair health in a telephone survey used in the study. That compares to 18 percent statewide. The prevalence of diabetes was higher here (13 percent) See Study, Page A5
Here’s how local counties fared (among the 244 counties in Texas) in a recent wide-ranging health study: • Fayette County - 17th • Lavaca County - 21st • Washington County - 24th • Austin County - 40th • Lee County - 60th • Bastrop County - 79th • Colorado County - 118th • Gonzales County - 141st • Caldwell County - 146th
You Get a Title, & You Get a Title & You Get a Title!
Three Fayette County volleyball teams earn regional quarterfinal volleyball titles Tuesday as they march on in the playoffs. See Sports, Section B
For The Record BBQ Turkeys
La Grange Knights of Columbus Council No. 2574 will be taking pre-orders for barbecue turkeys for Thanksgiving. The turkeys are 14-16 lbs. Please reserve your order before Nov. 15 by calling (979) 9685117. Pick up is Wednesday, Nov. 27 between 4 to 6 p.m.
Hermes Elementary music teacher Emily Gonzales leads first grade students in singing “Grand Old Flag” at Monday’s Veterans Day ceremony at the newly renovated LGISD Performing Arts Center. Photo by Andy Behlen
Honoring Those Who Answered the Call Area Filled With Veterans Day Observances: From Schools to Churches to Nursing Homes
AMEN Food Truck
The Central Texas Food Bank mobile pantry operated by the AMEN Food Pantry will be at the Waldeck Lutheran Church located on the corner of FM 1291 and FM 2145 on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 to 11 a.m. There is minimal paper work. Bring a container. The truck is in Waldeck every third Saturday of each month.
FWSC Board
Fayette Water Supply Corporation will be conducting a meeting of the board of directors on Monday, Nov. 18 at 5:15 p.m. at the FWSC office located at 200 Bordovsky Road in La Grange. All members are encouraged to attend. There’s more For the Record on Page A2
WEATHER WATCH
Fayette County Judge Joe Weber and his wife Brenda were special guests at a Veterans Event Sunday at the Remnant Church in La Grange. The Webers are shown here with the group that attended the service.
More Veterans Day Coverage on Page A4 today.
Flu Hasn’t Cemetery, Camping Ordinances Passed Hit This Area as Badly as Others - Yet By ANDY BEHLEN
The Fayette County Record
This Week’s Forecast High Low Friday: 60 34 Sunny Saturday: 61 39 Partly cloudy Sunday: 54 42 By H.H. HOWZE Partly cloudy The Fayette County Record Monday: 68 46 “Opened the window Sunny
Burn Ban Is Lifted
INSIDE TODAY Society......................... Page A4 Obituaries.................... Page A5 Sports.......................... Page B1 Weekend...................... Page C1 Classifieds................Page C2-4 Opinion........................ Page D1 Crossword................... Page D2
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Dick Frenzel of the La Grange Veterans of Foreign Wars Post (right) conducted a Veterans Day program at Care Inn in La Grange on Monday, Nov. 11. Frenzel presented American flags and plaques of recognition to the veterans who live at Care Inn. He spoke with the veterans, most of whom served in the Korean War, and thanked and saluted each of them for their service. Photo by Andy Behlen
and ... influenza.” The flu was so bad in Caldwell, just north of us in Burleson County, that all the schools were closed Monday so they could decontaminate the premises. Which begs the question – how bad is it around here? La Grange High School Nurse Myra Dela Rosa said Tuesday that flu-related absences were “sporadic, but a lot of students were out this week with symptoms.” Nurse Laurie Sturrock at Tejas Health said patients presenting with the flu or flu symptoms “began in August and haven’t stopped,” but the situation hasn’t reached epidemic stage with only five cases recently. And at McBroom Clinic in La Grange Practice Manager Lisa Blasig said, “We haven’t seen too much, but we are expecting it to move down from the Dallas area.” She credits immunizations (flu shots) with helping slow the spread.
La Grange City Council approved the second and final reading of an ordinance to ban outdoor camping in public places at a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13. The new ordinance prohibits sleeping outside or lying in a tent, on a cot, in a sleeping bag
or in a vehicle in any place where the public has a right of access. Those places include streets, highways, parks, public parking lots, alleyways, sidewalks and “other pedestrian ways wherever located within the city limits.” A person who commits the new offense is liable to a misdemeanor charge with a fine up to $500. The text of the ordinance
does not mention homelessness, but the new regulation will effectively criminalize homelessness within La Grange. The council did not discuss the ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting. They voted unanimously to approve it, with council members Pat Janca and Kathy Weishuhn absent from the meeting. Council also approved an
amendment to the ordinance regulating the sale of lots in the City Cemetery. Under the old rules, lot owners were limited to one burial per lot. The ordinance made no distinction between cremated remains and bodily remains. The new ordinance allows more than one burial per lot. See LG Council, back page
Join the Party to Help Build La Grange’s Newest Park By ANDY BEHLEN
The Fayette County Record
La Grange is getting a free adventure park, but the City needs about 200 volunteers to help put it together. In August, the City’s recreation department received a grant to build a Ninja Warrior-style course from Rebuild Texas and KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing children with safe places to play. The 4,800 sq. ft. course will be built at White Rock Park. The City scheduled a build date for Dec. 7. As part of the grant, the City agreed to organize a large team of volunteers to construct the course. City employees will prepare the site and dig post holes before the build day. On Dec. 7, volunteers will gather at 8:30 a.m. to begin setting posts and assembling the pieces of the obstacle course. If all goes accord-
ing to plan, the City expects to finish construction on the same day around 2:30 p.m. Volunteers will get a free breakfast and lunch. In addition, a DJ will be on-site providing music throughout the morning
and afternoon. About a third of the park has been designed for children ages 5 to 12. The larger portion of the park with more challenging obstacles will be designated for people ages 12 and up.
City recreation director Janet Rangel said local youth helped design the adventure course. Anyone who wants to volunteer on the build day can sign up at https://cityoflgadventurecoursebuild.eventbrite.com.
The City of La Grange provided this rendering of the adventure park to be constructed at White Rock Park. The City is looking for about 200 volunteers to help out with construction on a build day scheduled for Dec. 7.