A TASTE OF GERMANY CLOSE TO HOME
Visit Gedenke! This weekend. Inside
Remember to thank a Veteran and Serviceman every day!
MAY 7-8,
2021
$1.00 Vol. 164, No. 18 CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
coloradocountycitizen.com
editor@coloradocountycitizen.com
COVID COUNTER APR. 27 Total confirmed cases
1,395
Total probable cases
319
A PUBLICATION OF
20 pages, 2 inserts
May 1 election results BY ALESIA WOOLRIDGE
COLORADO COUNTY
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
FUN for the whole FAMILY
The Colorado County Joint Election May 1 saw some new faces voted into elected positions. Voter turnout was low, with a total of 835 ballots cast for Colu mbus a nd Eagle La ke elections. A total of 392 voters cast ballots during early
voting, 413 on Eleciton Day and 30 absentee ballots were received. Colorado County Elections Department reports 2,121 registered voters in the City of Columbus, 1,951 in the City of Eagle Lake and 6,848 registered voters eligible to vote in Columbus ISD elections. County Election Administrator Rebecka LaCourse said
that the City of Weimar and Weimar ISD conducted their own individual elections. Results from those elections are not included in these numbers. Results from the City of Weimar’s city council election were not available at press time.
■ ELECTIONS, 7
Total confirmed recovered cases 1,670
Gedenke! is back this weekend BY ALESIA WOOLRIDGE
Total active cases
19
editor@coloradocountycitizen.com
Total fatalities
30
Translated to English, the German word “Gedenke” means “Remember.” After last year’s cancellation due to COVID-19 concerns, the meaning of Weimar’s Gedenke! Festival rings truer than ever before. Weimar’s rich German heritage will be on full display at this popular two-day Mother’s Day weekend event May 7-8. Gedeke! is a wonderful way to connect with old friends, make new ones, and have a little old-fashioned festival fun with those you love. Admission and parking are always free, so come on out and join in the fun May 7-8 for Gedenke! For more i n for mat ion about Gedenke!, please visit https://weimartexas.net/ event2/gedenke/ or contact the Weimar Area Chamber of Commerce at (979) 725-9511 , chamber@weimartexas.org or https://weimartexas.net.
TSA Q hospital capacity 6.23% APR. 28 Total confirmed cases
1,395
Total probable cases
320
Total confirmed recovered cases 1,676 Total active cases
14
Total fatalities
30
TSA Q hospital capacity 5.94% APR. 29 Total confirmed cases
1,395
Total probable cases
320
Total confirmed recovered cases 1,676 Total active cases
14
Total fatalities
30
TSA Q hospital capacity 5.69% To sign up for vaccines of it you have any COVID-vaccine related questions, please call the Colorado County Emergency Medical Services at 979-732-2188 or sign up for vaccines online at https://us1. quickscreen.health/ lavaca-coloradocounties-vaccination#/ waitlist Please follow us on Facebook or visit www. coloradocountycitizen. com for the most up-todate coronavirus info for Colorado County.
ALSO INSIDE Obituaries ...............................................2 Opinions .................................................4 Applause .................................................5
ABOVE: Magnolia Blossoms in bloom during the spring-time e festival. RIGHT: Unidentified Magnolia Belle on the Colorado o County Courthouse Lawn during the Magnolia Homes Tour.
B
elles j lossoms
B
Magnolia Days Magnolia Days Festival’s sweet history Festival brings big time fun to Columbus BY JOHN R. JONES
S
Citizen Reporter
ixty-six years ago, a group of citizens met at the Live Oak Hotel in Columbus to discuss art and its influence. Thus, the Live Oak Art Group was formed and so named from the hotel they held their meetings. In 1955 they discussed exhibiting art pieces from local and out-of-town artists for an sidewalk art sale. It didn’t take long to grow thanks to long-time resident Liza McMahon, who helped spearhead the new community event. Twelve members comprised the Live Oak Art Group committee. Interest in exhibiting cultural art to the
BY JOHN MAGERA
Youth & Education ................................10
After decades of protection and conservation efforts, Texas’ critically endangered Attwater’s prairie-chicken population is at its highest since 1993. Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy in Texas estimate the current population is at least 178 birds. During the 2021 spring count, a total of 89 males were spotted performing breeding displays known as “booming” at the Service’s Attwater Prairie
Church Page ..........................................12 Business Directory ................................14 Police & Courts ......................................15 Reader’s Choice Ballot ...........................16 Classifieds .............................................17
Chicken National Wildlife Refuge and on private ranch lands participating in grassland management activities as part of the Conservancy’s Refugio-Goliad Prairie Project. This year’s count demonstrates a stark turnaround from near extinction in the wild just a few years ago. Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey, the 2018 spring count revealed only 13 males remaining in the wild.
■ WILDLIFE, 7
■ MAGNOLIA DAYS, 3
■ HISTORY, 7
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Chamber to host annual Festival May 14-15 on Historic Courthouse Square Excitement is brewing in Columbus as the Chamber of Commerce finalizes preparations for the 2021 Magnolia Days Festival, presented by Todd and Morgan Barten. Everyone’s invited to the Courthouse Square on Friday and Saturday, May 14-15, to enjoy two fun-filled days of festival activities including delicious food, a Biergarten sponsored by Five Oak Construction featuring Texas craft beers and local wines, and a Family Fun Zone with activities for both the young and “young at heart” including a petting zoo, pony rides, bounce houses, trackless train rides and a whole lot more, including carnival games sponsored by Trish and Stanley Priest. And the Biergarten koozies are courtesy of First National Bank of Eagle Lake.
Texas’ Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken wild population reaches 28-year high
County Roundup .....................................6
Newspaper in Education .......................10
community continued to grow. More ways were explored to showcase the paintings and the history of Columbus. In 1962 the Magnolia Homes Tour was formed in conjunction with the Art Show and Sale. With the addition of the four homes originally shown, young ladies in Victorian dress graced the statuesque homes to lend atmosphere to the period. The Victorian-era girls first appeared at the historic home of current owners Homer and Bernice Koliba. In 1964, the young ladies became known as the Magnolia Belles. The Belles consisted of high school seniors who served as docents before their rise to Belles.
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