Lady Cats end playoff run Sports, 9 Remember to thank a Veteran and Serviceman every day!
$1.00 Vol. 162, No. 22 2
coloradocountycitizen.com
24 pages, 3 inserts
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
COLORADO RIVER at Columbus
BANKFULL
30
FLOOD
34
STAGE
14.35
FLOW
4557
Levels are as of 10:45 a.m. May 28, 2019
MARKER RESTORED
APPLAUSE
Citizen | Vince Leibowitz
CHS students signs with KWI A student from Columbus’ vocational ag program will use his welding skills with a major Columbus employer upon graduation, 5.
Citizen | Vince Leibowitz
Tom Stelling restores the Blue Star Memorial Highway marker at the northwest corner of the Colorado County Courthouse Square last week. BY VINCE LEIBOWITZ vince@coloradocountycitizen.com
A LOOK BACK
Why were these ladies all decked out at the Eagle Lake pool? Find out, 3
COLUMBUS—A ubiquitous Columbus landmark got a facelift last week, just in time for Memorial Day. On the northeast corner of the lawn of the Colorado County Courthouse sites a Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker. Most in Columbus have passed the marker countless times, with little thought given to why it is there or how it got there.
The Columbus Garden Club, the organization responsible for the marker’s original erection in the 1957 using grant funds from the Columbus Community and Industrial Development Commission, had the marker restored last week. “The marker had started looking pretty bad,” said Velma Harrington, publicity chair for the Columbus Garden Club. “Over time, it just gets yucky looking, so we wanted to restore it,” she said.
A piece of the ribbon tied at the base of the marker during dedication ceremonies and flowers from the star-shaped wreath placed at the marker are preserved in the Columbus Garden Club’s Blue Star Memorial Highway Scrapbook in the archives of Nesbitt Memorial Library in Columbus. The ribbon in the scrap book is shown in the form of a bow on the photo of the marker unveiling above. Harrington said outgoing Columbus Garden Club President Mary Jane Moore found someone to restore the marker last year through the National Federation of Garden Clubs. “We just want it to be in good shape and an asset to Columbus,” Harrington said. Tom Stelling of Daytona Beach, Florida, who has restored more than 20 Blue Star Highway Markers, as well
■ BLUE STAR, 7
Cardinal golfers win state
AROUND THE COUNTY
County receives Excellence in Safety Award BY VINCE LEIBOWITZ vince@coloradocountycitizen.com
COLUMBUS—Colorado County was recognized as one of only eight of Texas’ 254 counties to earn an Excellence in Safety Award from the Texas Association of Counties Tuesday morning. Colorado County Treasurer Joyce Guthmann accepted the award on behalf of the county. In her capacity as county treasurer, Guthmann supervises many of the county’s safety programs and coordinates with TAC to ensure help determine what types of classes should be offered for county employees, said Joe Szewczyk, Risk Control Consultant with TAC under its Risk Management Pool, which provides insurance for counties. “Excellence in Safety is the highest level of award. Only eight of the 254 counties received the award, and Colorado County was one of them,” Szewcyk said. He said the county had to meet several guidelines both in terms of policies adopted by the Commissioners Court as well as the completion of certain training items, as well as maintaining a loss ratio below 65 percent. Following the presentation of the award, additional safety training was being conducted Tuesday for courthouse employees on a variety of topics.
TANKER TRUCK OVERTURNS
BY CODY J. BRUNE Special To The Citizen
An acclaimed poet will speak to the Eagle Lake League of the Arts June 1, 12
CHS GRADUATION
AUSTIN—The Columbus High School Cardinal Boys Golf Team won the 3A State Golf Tournament last week by one stroke. The season started for the Cardinals Boys Golf Team on Jan. 28 in Sweeny at Wilderness Golf Course. The Cardinals may have been a young team with only one senior, but their young players gained valuable experience on Varsity the previous year and playing many competitive tournaments between seasons. The Varsity Team consisted of Senior Austin Pflughaupt, Junior Brock Schobel, Sophomore Ty Thomas, Sophomore Carson Wray and Sophomore Hayden Heffley. If you plan on competing with the best in golf you must be sharp in every aspect of your game.
■ GOLF, 8
The Columbus High School Class of 2019 conducted its commencement exercises Thursday. 23
ALSO INSIDE Amusements ...........................................20 A Look Back ...............................................3 Applause ...................................................5 Around The County ....................................6 Church Page ............................................15 Classifieds ......................................... 21-22 Sports ................................................... 8-9 Obituaries .................................................2 Police & Courts ..................................17, 20 Viewpoints ...............................................4
Courtesy | Colorado County Emergency Management
Special To The Citizen | Cody J. Brune
The Columbus High School Golf Team celebrates their win at the UIL 3A State Golf Tournamnet. Shown left to right are Athletic Director Matt Schobel, Hayden Heffley, Austin Pflughuapt, Brock Schobel, Carson Wray, Ty Thomas, and CHS Boys Golf Coach John Paul Hunter.
Around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, the driver of a tanker truck carrying approximately 4,800 gallons of methanol left the roadway on County Road 102 just north of FM 949 and rolled over. Colorado County Emergency Management Coordinator Chuck Rogers said no product leaked from the tanker, and that emergency management officials were on hand until about 4:30 p.m. until the tanker was offloaded and towed away.
Walk of Honor dedicated on Memorial Day BY VINCE LEIBOWITZ vince@coloradocountycitizen.com
COLUMBUS—The Colorado County Veterans Walk of Honor was dedicated amid speeches, song, and remembrances Monday morning at Veterans Memorial Center in Columbus. The walkway, a project of Vietnam Veterans of America, Columbus Chapter 1127. Since being announced last spring, area residents have had the opportunity to purchase bricks with the names of loved ones and others who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Although VVA decided initially to do only one portion of the walkway as bricks were
ordered, the group determined to lay both the north and south sides of the walkway in time for Memorial Day this year. Blank bricks currently along the walkway will be replaced with bricks containing the names of service men and women as they are ordered, organizers said. Roger Moyers served as master of ceremonies for the event. The event began with an opening prayer by VVA 1127 Chaplin Stephen Schorer. The National Anthem was sung by Christine Yates Armstrong. Roque Castillo led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Jim Foster performed three songs including
Columbus Christian Center Pastor Neftali DeJesus and his family would love for you to join them for worship every Sunday at 10:30 am
LAGRANGEFORD.COM 800.375.6461 | 979.968.6461 1605 W. Travis St. | La Grange, Texas
979-732-2433 1503 Bowie Street, Columbus ColumbusChristianCenterTX@gmail.com www.ColumbusChristianCenter.org
■ HONOR, 7
Citizen | Vince Leibowitz
Members of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1127 of Columbus salute and stand at attention during ceremonies to dedicate the Colorado County Veterans Walk of Honor Monday at Veterans Memorial Center in Columbus.
COUPON
Dodge Service:
OIL CHANGE SPECIAL
$
34
95 EXPIRATION DATE: JUNE 30, 2019
(*Up to 5 Quarts, no diesel *Coupon must be present, restrictions apply. Does not include tax.)
4860 I-10 Exit 698 Columbus
1-800-443-1492 • tommievaughnautocountry.com
WINDSHIELD XPRESS AUTO GLASS
“Where quality makes the difference”
2035 Milam • 979-732-6269
P. O. Box 548 • 2024 Highway 71 • Columbus, TX 78934 • (979) 732-2304 • publisher@coloradocountycitizen.com