According to the Elgin Police Department, Christopher Vargas is being held without bond on unrelated charges in the Hays County Jail in San Marcos.

He awaits extradition to the Bastrop County Jail in Bastrop in connection with the homicide case, officers said.

The body of Sonya Martinez Guerra, 55, at 108-A Anderson Drive was found at 12:44 p.m. June 30 when police, the Elgin Fire Department and paramedics responded to a welfare check, according to a city news release.

"Guerra sustained obvious trauma to her body,” the release noted.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Detective Dylan Judd at 512-285-5757 or Dylan.Judd@ElginTexas.gov.

A Bastrop County nonprofit has expanded its maternal health program to offer free pregnancy and postpartum support to Black mothers Backed by a rural health grant from the St. David’s Foundation, Chosen Women Empower recently launched Chosen Beginnings, replacing its earlier Empowered Beginnings program, which focused solely on doula services. The expanded program adds health monitoring devices that transmit data through a secure mobile app, allowing licensed providers to intervene quickly if health indicators raise concern, according to CEO and founder Chevalier DeShay.

“Now that we have this program exactly how we want it … we’re already seeing changes in mom’s health and what mom is going through,” DeShay said.

New equipment available includes blood pressure monitors, glucometers and activity trackers.

“The funding allowed us to wave our magic wand and create what was needed in rural Texas,” DeShay said.

Staff also screen participants for social factors such as food insecurity, housing instability and utility needs, connecting families with resources as issues arise.

According to DeShay, one of the program’s early findings has been the need to advocate for younger mothers, whose concerns are sometimes overlooked during medical appointments.

“My team has had to step in to advocate for them to get to a place where everybody is feeling heard,” she said.

The organization has already welcomed its first baby under the program and will continue supporting the family through the child’s first year, helping ensure wellness visits are completed and addressing social needs as they come up.

“We’ll still walk with the mom for 12 months post pregnancy,” DeShay said. With the transition to Chosen Beginnings, the nonprofit looks to further shape its unique mission and identity within the community.

“You cannot empower a woman unless you’re empowering every step of her life,” DeShay said. “Our team is always available. Our goal at Chosen Women Empower is truly to create healthy communities.”

All services are provided at no cost through grant funding and community support.

More information can be found at chosenwomenempower.org.

Elgin’s oldest home is headed into public ownership after City Council recently voted to accept a historic property donation and set the stage for future preservation efforts.

The city agreed to accept the Mary Christian Burleson Homestead and surrounding property from the Mary Christian Burleson Foundation. The move comes after months of discussions on costs associated with maintaining the homestead as part of the city’s park system.

The donation includes $7,000 to be put toward an estimated $30,000 in improvements needed to make the grounds safe and accessible for public use, leaving the city to fund the remaining $23,000 from the general fund.

That estimate only covers making the grounds safe for public access, according to Recreation Program Manager Riggin Anderson, and does not include further restoration or renovations needed for the home itself.

Proposed improvements include decorative fencing around the house, filling two abandoned wells, landscaping, trail connections and signage detailing the site’s history. Filling the two wells would cost around $6,400, while decorative wrought-iron fencing is estimated at about $8,000, according to Anderson.

City Manager Robert Eads said the immediate priority after taking ownership would be addressing safety concerns before any interior work is considered.

“If the intent was to go any further, we would have to find that money if we wanted to step inside and start making those improvements,” Eads said. “We don’t have an assessment yet as to what that would cost or look like.”

Council members questioned whether the city should commit to additional staffing and longterm maintenance before completing its annual budget process.

“This could be an item we take up in the next couple of weeks when we start talking about budget,” Eads said. “A steady hand and a clear mind as to where these expenses are coming from is smart business.”

Ultimately, Councilman Liston Crim encouraged the city to move forward with accepting the donation, citing the site’s historical importance.

“I don’t think we can pass it up in terms of its important part of our history,” he said.

According to officials, any future restoration work and associated costs will be considered during upcoming budget discussions.

The grant-funded County Line Road and Kennedy Street projects are designed to reduce flooding by routing stormwater beneath roadways while widening roads and improving infrastructure. Public Works Director Michael Gonzales said coordinating utility relocations from multiple providers, combined with the city’s own water and sewage infrastructure have been the primary challenges.

“Recent heavy rainfall has also affected construction, as the area’s clay-heavy soils retain significant moisture,” Gonzales said.

About 1,400 linear feet of reinforced concrete storm drainage boxes have been installed along County Line Road, where aging open bar ditches will be replaced with an enclosed drainage system. According to the city, the improvements will help with stormwater collection and roadway safety.

The corridor will also be widened from two lanes to four, with a center median and turn lane.

At Kennedy Street and Central Avenue, crews have completed installation of drainage structures and excavated the future stormwater retention area, though recent rains have continued to slow the pace.

“The contractors are finding in this area that you just kind of move that water out of the way before you can put those boxes in,” Gonzales said. “It takes time and the crews working along to get to that.”

The city has logged about 60 working days of construction with roughly 258 remaining. Gonzales said crews are also in a “discovery phase,” as they uncover older underground infrastructure that predates modern survey equipment.

“A lot of this stuff was put in the ground before survey equipment was common in Elgin,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Gonzales said the city expects to meet the grant’s end-of-year construction deadline, and the city appreciates residents’ patience as work continues.

“We’ve asked our community to make some short-term sacrifices in convenience as we work on this project that will be a long-term benefit for the community,” Gonzales said.

Additional project information and updates can be found at elgintexas. gov.

The newsroom recently shuffled some roles.

Reporter Emily Treadway is now the area editor for the Centex Group, which includes the Courier, the Taylor Press and the Manor Journal.

Former Area Editor Jason Chlapek has switched to the digital editor role.

“Both Emily and Jason are strong journalists with significant and lasting ties to the community and a love for telling stories,” said Thomas Edwards, executive editor for Granite Media Partners Inc., which owns the papers. “They’re both dedicated to covering the news, serving current readers and bringing in new audience members.” While Treadway will have editorial oversight for the Centex Group publications and their related platforms, Chlapek will focus on timely stories for the websites — including www.taylorpress. net — and posting news tidbits and links to digital stories through social-media channels.

“With the changing media landscape, it’s vital for media outlets — newspapers included — to push out digital content,” Chlapek said. “My goal in this new role is to get copy out quickly and accurately.”

Chlapek, a Taylor resident, began his new role July 6. A 20-year industry veteran, he has been with The Press since February 2025.

Treadway also started with The Press in February 2025. She began her current assignment July 6 after serving the previous 15 months as an education and general assignments reporter.

She also lives in the area.

“We already have a great paper and a great team in place. We’re very excited about the changes here and hope the community will be, too,” Treadway said.

For news tips, contact Chlapek or Treadway by email at jason.chlapek@ granitemediapaertners. com or emily.treadway@taylorpress.net or call 512-352-8535.

To subscribe to The Press, email carolyn. hill@taylorpress.net or call 512-352-8535.

Following the latest University Interscholastic League realignment, Elgin joins District 25-5A and will compete alongside Georgetown, Hendrickson, Glenn, Connally, Weiss, Pflugerville and Manor.

The Lady Cats open preparations Aug. 7 with a scrimmage at Akins before hosting their annual Alumni Scrimmage Aug. 8. Preseason home matches against Lexington and Smithville precede the regular season opener Aug. 18, hosting Taylor in a non-district bout.

Other non- district schedule matchups include Cedar Creek, Thorndale, Akins and McDade, along with tournament appearances at the Cen-Tex Queens of the Court in Killeen, the Bastrop Classic and the Wildcat Classic, which Elgin will host.

District play opens Sept. 8 with a road trip to Georgetown, before the Wildcats host Hendrickson Sept. 11. Elgin will play home-and-home matchups against all district opponents before closing the regular season Oct. 23 on the road at Manor.

Elgin is coming off a season of improvement after picking up two district wins and will look to build on that in its new district.

The Texas STSSN consists of several partner organizations across the Texas coast that respond to and rehabilitate stranded sea turtles. TPWD will work to support these organizations while continuing to partner in sea turtle conservation and recovery efforts in Texas during large scale stranding events such as winter freezes.

TPWD and NOAA will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition and provide ongoing support to the STSSN. As the Texas State Coordinator, TPWD will lead and facilitate statewide matters pertinent to sea turtle management and recovery that are connected with sea turtle strandings and incidental captures, including inter-agency cooperation, emergency response and preparedness, and support of law enforcement.

This role also serves as the STSSN point of contact for notifications and other aspects of permits/ authorizations under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) jurisdiction that have historically involved the State Coordinator. NOAA will continue to provide data management and record verification for the TX STSSN, facilitate necropsies, and support the Texas Coordinator in key areas such as emergency response and training.

Special thanks to Dr. Donna Shaver and the National Park Service for their many years of service to the STSSN and to NOAA staff for fulfilling interim coordinator roles over the last several months.

Sea turtle nesting-related issues remain outside of the STSSN and are the purview of the USFWS.

To report an injured, stranded, entangled, or dead sea turtle, please call: (866) TURTLE5 (866-887-8535).

To report a stranded or injured marine animal, please visit: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ report.

The drawn hunts program issues permits to hunters for drawn hunts on both public and private lands throughout Texas. Applications are now being accepted for a shot at nearly 9,800 permits in more than 60 high-quality hunt categories.

“It is an affordable way to get to hunt, but more importantly, the offerings in the public hunt draw system allow you to potentially hunt one end of Texas to the other for potentially every species Texas has to offer!” said Kelly Edmiston, TPWD public hunting coordinator. “From the Panhandle to South Texas, to the Trans-Pecos and the Pineywoods, you could be selected for a hunting spot at a state park, wildlife management area, national wildlife refuge or private property. Variety is the key and the opportunity is there.”

Hunts for white-tailed and mule deer, pronghorn, turkey, alligator and dove, plus guided packages for exotic species and bighorn sheep are a few of the hunts available through the Texas public drawn hunt system. Last year, more than 500,000 applications were submitted to TPWD. Thanks to 154 hunts across 55 state parks, hunters will also have the chance to explore Texas State Parks. Public hunting opportunities at State Parks have increased for the 2026-27 season compared to last year, with a 20 percent increase over the past five years.

Key additions for the 202627 season include a mentored dove hunt at Lake Corpus Christi State Park along with deer and exotic game hunts at newly acquired Bear Creek and Silver Lake State Parks. Other recently acquired state parks properties providing public hunts include Post Oak Ridge and Caprock Canyons State Parks, along with Enchanted Rock and Honey Creek State Natural Area.

Application deadlines are the First and 15th of each month between Aug. 1 and Nov. 1. For example, applications for all alligator hunt categories and private land dove hunts are due Aug. 1, while deadlines for archery deer, archery mule deer, pronghorn, private land pronghorn and javelina are Aug. 15.

Application fees range from free to $3 to $10, depending on the hunt category. If selected, adult hunters may need to pay a special permit fee of $80 for regular hunts or $130 for extended hunts. Categories such as youth-only hunts and specified others do not require application or permit fees. Permits are open to residents and non-resident hunters alike.

To apply for e-Postcard hunts and U.S. Forest Service antlerless deer permits, applicants must have a current Annual Public Hunt Permit (APH). APH permits go on sale annually on Aug. 15. Last year, 60,713 APH permits were sold, generating approximately $2.8 million in revenue for wildlife conservation and public hunting opportunities.

The Drawn Hunts Catalog interactive map shows all drawn hunt opportunities by category or by area. All applications, fee payments and permit issuance are handled electronically. All applicants will need internet access, an email address and a credit or debit card to participate. The most effective way to access the system is through the customer ID number from the applicant’s hunting or fishing license.

Visit the drawn hunt website for a full list of category deadlines. Hunters can apply until 11:59 p.m. CST on the application deadline. Applicants can check their drawing status online at any time.

For more information or to start the application process, visit TPWD Drawn Hunts. For questions, contact hunt@tpwd. texas.gov or call (512) 3894505 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

— Author unknown

Comfortably seated at a Nacogdoches restaurant a few years ago, my eyes absorbed the antiques and vintage signs adorning the old warehouse- turned-eatery.

I had dined there many times, before a brief detour in the Hill Country. That night, however, my casual scan locked onto one conspicuously familiar piece.

“What are the odds?” I murmured.

Fast forward to last week. A KLTV Channel 7 news report on an icon of times gone by reminded me of that night at the restaurant. According to the story, bewildered crowds in Gilmer were attracted to a sight that prompted calls from curious residents — many of whom confessed they had never seen anything like it.

The tall glass enclosure looked just big enough for a single person to stand inside where a crude, hard-wired telephone hung. Passing youngsters called it a donation box or a primitive ATM, before an older gentleman recognized it immediately.

“Pay phone,” he said. “That was once the only way to make a call away from home.”

Public pay phone booths shaped U.S. communication and culture for more than a century and were everywhere— airports, bus stops and train stations.

By the late 1950s, wood gave way to sleek glass-and-aluminum structures. In both forms, they were also once the lifeblood of journalism. Hollywood loved the trope of the frantic reporter rushing into a phone booth to dictate a scoop before the presses rolled.

The last time I played that live-action role was in 1997 in Washington, D.C. I was covering the U.S. Court hearing of “The City of Boerne v. Flores”— a legal battle over a church building permit and historic preservation which I had covered.

Arguments concluded, I snapped a few photos, then sprinted toward the nearest pay phone where I dictated the story to our editor back at the Boerne Star.

Thanks to the humble pay phone, our hometown weekly broke the news the same day as the major dailies.

By the mid-1990s, the U.S. boasted more than 2.6 million pay phones. Then came the communications revolution: Cellphones put a phone booth in everyone’s pocket. The death blow came with the 1996 Telecommunications Act removing subsidies, effectively “hanging up” on phone booths for good. Today, it’s estimated that fewer than 100,000 examples remain nationwide, fading like ghosts of an analog world.

Reminded last week of that night at the eatery, I turned to my dining companion and said, “See that old wooden phone booth over there? I had one exactly like it in the game room of a house I sold in Center back in 1990. Mine was a ‘stand-up’ model from 1937 with phone numbers scratched into the metal near the door.”

Jotting remnants I could recall of those numbers on a napkin, I then walked across the room. Reaching the folding glass door, I stepped inside. I recognized the familiar, bare, unshielded fan and light fixture.

I folded the door shut and looked above the casing. There it was. Stamped clearly in the data plate: 1937. Beneath it, still perfectly legible, were the phone numbers I recalled.

The old phone booth I once enjoyed had found its way into a restaurant some 15 years and 35 miles down the road from where I last saw it.

Murmuring again, “What are the odds?”

Insurance rates rose statewide by an average of 4.3% last year, according to the Texas Department of Insurance, which was significantly lower than the rate increases of preceding years. Homeowners were still paying about 80% more for home insurance in 2025 than they paid in 2020.

Texas Department of Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford said given the profits Texas insurers reaped last year, they should “strongly consider whether or not a rate decrease might be in order.”

However, insurers can change their rates without getting state approval.

Rates in Texas are among the highest in the country.

PAXTON MAY HAVE VIOLATED TEXAS ELECTION LAW Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who created a tip line for the public to report suspected voter fraud, may have violated the law by voting in six elections using an address where he has not lived for two years, The Texas Tribune reported.

The attorney general’s election guidance includes a warning that “it is illegal to misrepresent your residence on election records or to establish a residence for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an election.”

It further states, “You must register to vote using the address where you reside.”

Paxton appears to have used an address where he didn’t live while voting, according to election records obtained by Pro Publica and The Texas Tribune. When his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, filed for divorce last year, she said Paxton had moved out of their Collin County home a year earlier, but Ken Paxton has continued to use that address when voting. He has been linked to a home in a gated community in neighboring Denton County since February.

Neither Ken Paxton nor Angela Paxton responded to requests for comment. Ken Paxton is the GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate in the November general election.

TALARICO FAR OUTPACES OPPONENT IN FUNDRAISING State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, continues to dominate fundraising in the U.S. Senate race, raising $30 million in the second quarter, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Meanwhile, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, reported his strongest fundraising quarter so far, with his campaign saying most donations came after the attorney general ousted U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in a late-May runoff.

“We are uniting Texans onto one team to change this broken, corrupt political system and bring down costs for working families,” Talarico said in a statement.

The Paxton campaign said its increased fundraising success reflects donor enthusiasm to “send a proven conservative fighter” to the U.S. Senate.

APPEALS COURT REJECTS BID TO REVIVE TEXAS DREAM ACT In a 2-1 decision, the 5th U.S. Circuit of Appeals rejected an appeal of a 2025 ruling that struck down the decades- old Texas Dream Act, which allowed Texas students without legal status to pay in-state college tuition, the Texas Standard reported.

Until the Texas Dream Act was overturned last summer, students without legal status qualified for in-state tuition if they lived in Texas for at least three years and graduated from a Texas high school or earned a GED diploma. About 57,000 students without legal status were enrolled in Texas colleges in 2022.

The appeals court decision means affected students will continue to pay out-of-state tuition rates at Texas public colleges and universities.

STATE LAUNCHES TEXAS CLASSROOM COMMISSION A new teacher-led initiative, aimed at “putting Texas educators at the center of shaping the future of public education,” was launched last week.

The Texas Classroom Commission will be led by Courtney Boswell MacDonald of Kerrville, a former teacher and chairwoman of the State Board for Educator Certification.

“The Texas Classroom Commission will bring together exemplar y public-school educators to identify innovative solutions that help students succeed, improve the learning environment in classrooms and strengthen our schools,” Gov. Greg Abbott said.

The commission will consist of current and retired public school classroom teachers. It will deliver recommendations to the Legislature before the start of the 90th session in January.

HISTORICALLY STRONG EL NIÑO LIKELY COMING THIS FALL El Niño, one of the planet’s most powerful climate patterns, is quickly gaining strength and has an 81% chance of reaching historic levels this fall, the Austin American- Statesman reported.

That could mean cooler, wetter weather in Texas, according to meteorologist Mary Wasson.

During the last super El Niño event in 20152016, Central Texas experienced two of its largest floods. However, a strengthening El Niño typically reduces the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes creating an impact on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Above-normal rainfall is favored in West Texas this fall, with wetter conditions expanding statewide by December, Wasson wrote.

TEXAS’ ACA ENROLLMENT SHRINKS BY 4% AFTER TAX CREDIT EXPIRES The number of Texans who paid for their first month of Affordable Care Act coverage dropped 4%, The Texas Tribune reported. It was the state’s first year-over-year decline since 2019. The decrease comes after a pandemic-era subsidy of ACA premiums expired at the end of last year.

The enrollment decline was less steep in Texas than most other states, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The state’s ACA population fell from 3.42 million in 2025 to 3.28 million in 2026 after the tax credit expired and premiums rose.

“We saw record growth in ACA enrollment when there was an enhanced premium tax credit,” said Justin Lo, a senior researcher for national health policy group KFF. “This is the first time we’ve seen a decrease in enrollment.”

RESEARCHERS TO LAUNCH TEXAS WINE GRAPES INTO SPACE Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife are getting ready to launch Texas wine grape seeds into space, the Texas Standard reported. The plants will be placed on TAMU-SPIRIT-1, an orbital research platform that will be flown above the International Space Station.

The grape seeds will orbit the Earth for six months before returning to be planted and examined.

Adrej Svyantek, an assistant professor and viticulture specialist at AgriLife, said the experiment could reveal what happens to the seeds when they are exposed to cosmic radiation. That could help guide which crops are grown aboard space platforms when long-term human occupation in space increases.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders @texaspress.com.

Mary lived alone and required extra caregivers. Typically, I visited her in the middle of the day while her children attended school, and we mostly watched TV in her bedroom. She ate little, but occasionally enjoyed popsicles or a cool drink.

She slept a lot, and I was merely present for whatever need should arise.

One day, which began routinely enough, Mary suddenly cried out, “I’m going to be sick. Quick, get some towels.”

She began retching, sick in her bed.

As I responded, everything moved in slow motion, and in my mind, her small house stretched into the size of a football field. All I heard was her retching sounds filling my ears.

I had a problem — when someone vomits, I always join them. I always have. I couldn’t even care for my own children when they were sick.

Thoughts of taking care of someone in such circumstances scared me to death. I didn’t want to offend her, and I sure didn’t want to throw up along with her.

I moved as quickly as I could through her little home to the linen closet, silently praying: “Oh Lord, please help me take care of Mary. And please don’t let me throw up.”

I kept running those twenty long steps across her house.

Returning to Mary’s room, I found a horrible mess all over her bed, her clothes and herself. And I prayed: “Oh, please Lord. I can’t do this. Help me do this.”

I had never seen such a mess, and even now I hesitate to describe it in detail. Let’s just agree it was really terrible.

I bathed her face and neck. I made sure she was comfortable with a clean gown and helped her transfer to a nearby chair. I immediately took the soiled linens to the washing machine and began the cleaning process to get her room back in order.

God was our very present help. I never felt queasy or sick, or even a gag.

God’s compassion gave Mary dignity, with minimal drama.

Mary passed away near Christmas that year, but I’ll always recall God’s goodness for us both. Until next week, Anita Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.

• Adam Muery, Elgin High School class of 1994, business and professional achievement;

• George Wesley Smith Jr., Washington High School class of 1963, community service;

• Ashton Howell, Elgin High School class of 2007, education;

• Malford Milligan, Elgin High School class of 1978, social services and the arts.

The EISD Distinguished Service award was presented to Cheryl Thomas.

County officials said the application does not seek funding for ICE related activities or involvement and would support equipment and technology needs for the county’s Special Response Team, which responds to violent crime, drug and human trafficking cases. 

More to come in future editions of the Elgin Courier. Subscribe to the Elgin Courier at gail.schobey@granitemediapartners.com or calling 512-285-3333. 

The pursuit involved the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Austin Police Department’s Air Support Unit, the Manor Police Department and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

The teen, who is not being identified because he is a minor, is charged under juvenile statutes by Austin police with burglary of a vehicle and aggravated robbery; and evading arrest in a vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and reckless driving by Manor police.

According to authorities, Manor police received a report of an aggravated robbery about 9:30 p.m. Saturday near U.S. 290 and George Bush Street in east Austin.

Manor police spotted the vehicle about 9:40 p.m. on Abigail Fillmore Road, officers said. According to authorities, the driver sped off and drove through the Presidential Glen neighborhood before heading west on 290.

The motorist turned onto Harris Branch Parkway, stopped not much later and was arrested without incident, police said.

Jacob Johns, 43, was taken into custody by Elgin Police Department officers about 9 a.m. July 1 on a warrant from the Bastrop Police Department. He is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony, and is being held in the Bastrop County Jail.

According to Elgin Independent School District officials, Johns was hired as a substitute teacher in January and had been pursuing a permanent teaching and coaching position with the district for the fall.

He previously served as an educator and coach at Cedar Creek High School in Bastrop Independent School District from August 2024 to January 2026.

More on this case to come in the Courier.

William Ewer, 58, died from injuries suffered in the mishap and his spouse, 54-year-old Brenda Ewer, was airlifted to an area hospital in stable condition, according to officers.

The driver of the other vehicle was detained by the Manor Police Department and charged with no driver’s license, officials said.

Authorities said the two-vehicle collision occurred near U.S. 290 and Old Kimbro Road about 4:30 a.m.

When officers arrived, one vehicle was in the middle of the roadway and the other was off the blacktop in a fence line, according to reports.

The driver and a passenger in the other vehicle were not injured and remained at the accident site, police said.

First responders with Travis County Emergency Services District 12 pulled Brenda Ewer from the vehicle before a STAR Flight medical helicopter arrived.

William Ewer, who drove the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation, police said.

The Texas Talent Connection grants, administered by the Texas Workforce Investment Council, support education, skills training and job placement programs for Texans facing workforce barriers, according to officials. Four local programs were among the total 27 recipients.

“The Texas economy soars to new heights because of the hard work and dedication of our young and skilled workforce,” Abbott said in a statement. “These grants will allow more Texans to acquire the skills they need to succeed in high-demand careers.”

Locally, the Rural Capital Area Workforce Development Board received $236,709 for the second year of its Rural Pre-Nursing Readiness and Education Program. The funds will help connect underserved rural residents with employer partnerships and educational pathways toward nursing degrees.

The Smithville Workforce Training Center received $350,000 for the first year of its Auto Works Technician Program.

The center will offer automotive technician training to workers in Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette and Lee counties to improve the pipeline of qualified workers and employers, officials said.

American YouthWorks was awarded $200,000 for its effort with area residents ages 16-24, offering no-cost pre-apprenticeship training for those not enrolled in school or employed.

Skillpoint Alliance also claimed $200,000 for the first year of its IGNITE project, which looks to guide students transitioning from electrical pre-apprenticeship into registered apprenticeship programs.

“As we train our future workforce, Texas will remain the economic engine of the country,” Abbott said.

“The goal is to promote a fun, safe and competitive atmosphere. It’s not about basketball, it’s about giving back to the community,” said Jason Hennington, tournament director. “Basketball is just the avenue.”

The tournament raises money for two local scholarships and a donation to a local nonprofit. Since it began in 2013, the tournament has grown and brought visitors to Taylor. Athletes and spectators look forward to the second weekend in July year-round.

“The annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament has become a great community tradition in Taylor and the surrounding area,” said Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen, Taylor Independent School District superintendent. “I’ve always enjoyed playing basketball, and I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the tournament the last two years as well. I’m looking forward to being back on the court again this year.”

Last year, Garcia-Edwardsen received the Community Service Tournament award last year for her push to get more women’s teams involved.

“It’s a fun way to stay active, catch up with people and meet others from across the community,” she said. “What stands out most is how it brings families, friends and neighbors together from different areas to enjoy a relaxed, competitive environment and support a great local event.”

Tremale Bouldin, who has played almost every year, said playing is not the only way to enjoy the tournament.

“The Taylor tournament is one of the best 3-on-3 tournaments you’ll ever witness. The experience is great for the athletes and their families, the competition is top tier and the prizes are really amazing,” he said. “Can’t wait to see how this year’s tournament plays out.”

In addition to the age divisions, the tournament co-hosts, the Shining Stars, a nonprofit for adults with special needs, play in the tournament. Last year, a new tradition began with the Shining Stars playing against a Taylor Duck alumni team from 1995. The teams will clash again this year.

“I really enjoy watching and supporting all levels and abilities at this tournament. It’s everything you can ask for when it comes to a weekend of basketball,” Bouldin said.

Age divisions for men and women are 11-14, 15-17 and 18 and older. Anyone who has played varsity basketball will play in the 18 and older division.

The entry fee is $50 a team with up to four players per team, which Hennington said is unheard of in most places.

Winners receive championship rings among other prizes. In addition to prizes for the winners, there is a raffle, three-point and free throw contests.

“I appreciate Jason Hennington for organizing this tournament for the past 13 years and it continues to build something that so many people look forward to each year,” Garcia-Edwardsen said.

For anyone interested in signing up, registering, donating or volunteering can contact Hennington by email at taylorpress3on3@ gmail.com or call 512-269-9735.

That was the day of the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling pay-per-view event “Bash at the Beach” took place in Daytona, Florida. It also was the day Hulk Hogan became a bad guy AKA took a heel turn.

In professional wrestling, a heel is a bad guy, and a face is what the good guys are called. Prior to Bash at the Beach 96, Hogan was one of the biggest faces — if not the biggest face — in the professional wrestling world.

The main event for Bash at the Beach 96 was WCW faces Lex Luger, Randy Savage and Sting against two guys called “The Outsiders” — Scott Hall and Kevin Nash — and a mystery partner. Toward the end of the match, Hogan was revealed to be the third man on the Outsiders’ team.

In the three months prior to this particular pay-per-view, Hogan took a hiatus to film episodes of “Thunder in Paradise” and his box-office flop, “Santa with Muscles.” On May 27, 1996, Hall “interrupted” a match on WCW Monday Nitro to announce that he and two of his associates were declaring war on the wrestling organization.

Hall previously wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation — now World Wrestling Entertainment — under the ring name, “Razor Ramon.” Hall’s last appearance in the WWF at that time was May 19, 1996, at a house show at Madison Square Garden, which I’ll touch on later in this piece.

Two weeks after Hall’s initial appearance on WCW, Nash appeared. Like Hall, Nash’s last WWF appearance was at the same MSG house show, but Nash wrestled in that organization under the name, “Diesel.”

This gave WCW fans the impression that two wrestlers from the WWF were “invading” the organization. Between their initial appearances on WCW televised events, it certainly seemed that way.

Then came the Bash at the Beach main event. Hall and Nash walked to the ring without their mystery partner, but informed ring announcer Gene Okerlund the man would be ready to go when necessary.

Luger, Savage and Sting arrived at ringside and the fight was on. Two minutes into the match, Luger suffered a kayfabe (fake) injury and was wheeled off on a stretcher.

For the next 20 minutes, Savage and Sting fought Hall and Nash before all four men were laying down in the ring. That’s when Hogan arrived and was greeted with a hero’s welcome.

Fans assumed Hogan came to save Savage and Sting. However, Hogan delivered two leg drops across Savage’s chest and gave high-fives to Hall and Nash, revealing he was the third man on the Outsiders’ team.

In the fol lowing months, Hall, Hogan and Nash formed the New World Order. The NWO became one of the biggest heel factions in wrestling history.

Other former WWF superstars joined the NWO such as Syxx (1-2-3 Kid in WWF), Vincent (Virgil in WWF), Mike Rotundo (Irwin R. Schuyster in WWF), Ted DiBiase and Savage — to name a few. Because of this, fans were treated to dream matches such as Sting vs. Hogan, Savage vs. Ric Flair, Luger vs. Hall, etc.

As mentioned earlier, the May 19, 1996, WWF house show where Hall and Nash made their final appearance with that organization until 2002 had its share of controversy. The duo held a celebration in the ring with longtime friends Michael Higginbotham (Shawn Michaels) and Paul Levesque (HHH), which wouldn’t have been an issue except Hall and Michaels were faces while HHH and Nash were heels.

This incident infuriated WWF owner Vince McMahon, which he believed broke kayfabe. Five years after the incredible summer of 1996, McMahon bought WCW and many of its stars wrestled in WWE, which was renamed from WWF after McMahon lost a naming rights lawsuit against the World Wildlife Fund.

I’ll never forget the summer of 1996. It shook up the wrestling world.

Chlapek can be reached at jason.chlapek@granitemediapartners. com.

The Center Noon Lions Club annual banquet rolled out a couple of weeks ago and lived up to its reputation for fun, fellowship and reminding folks the local civic club knows exactly where it is going.

The official motto of Lions Clubs International is, “We Serve.”

Awards were made, new officers installed and, like the old-time columnists used to say about church socials, “A good time was had by all.”

My Lions Club journey began in Mount Pleasant in the early 1970s. Since then, the only place I’ve missed being a Lion was in Boerne.

In town just a few days, a dutiful member of the Boerne Lions was recruiting me.

“Sounds great,” I said. “Usual time — noon Thursdays?”

“We meet Wednesday nights,” he said.

“Oh, that’s sadly not going to work, I said. “I attend Bible study on Wednesday nights.”

The fellow looked at me with a pause.

“Are you Episcopalian?” he asked.

His question makes more sense considering Kendall County’s cultural breakdown — it is a region settled by mid-19th-century German “Freethinkers.” Stats state that 59 % of the county population is Catholic. Southern Baptists come in second at 19% and other factions claim tiny slices of the pie at 17% or less.

So, Boerne was not to be my opportunity for earning a Lions Club “Perfect Attendance” pin. The first and only remains as the year I served as president in Center. But even that was close.

Ferociously working on my attendance record that year, the message arriving from the newspaper’s home office in Fort Payne, Alabama, posed a problem.

“Annual review time,” it read. “Your appointed time is next Wednesday afternoon,” which meant in Alabama and 600 miles from Thursday’s Lion’s Club meeting at Center’s Lake Country Inn.

“It’s all right,” a friend consoled me. “You can make up with another club.”

“Not the same,” I growled. “As Yogi Berra said, ‘It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.’” Huddling with a travel agent, we mapped out a method. Fly Wednesday morning from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, connecting in Memphis. Hop a rental car and blast down to Fort Payne just in time for my Wednesday afternoon corporate interrogation. On Thursday, race back to Chattanooga and reverse the entire crazy course putting me in Shreveport at 10:45 a.m.

That would work if there were no hiccups to collapse the house of cards.

I made the meeting. Done. Headlights cut through the darkness toward Chattanooga at 5 a.m. Thursday, guiding me to the city’s Metropolitan Airport.

The Memphis connection went down as smooth as an Elvis Presley love song, and I watched Interstate 20 pass underneath the jet before it kissed the tarmac at Shreveport.

The Buncombe Road shortcut from the airport put me between Shreveport and Carthage, and the Tenaha city limit sign was in my rearview mirror at 11:46 a.m.

I slammed into a parking spot at the Lake Country Inn at high noon and walked into the meeting cool as a cucumber.

Just in time, I picked up the gavel at the podium, rang the bell calling the meeting to order, and asked, “Lion Joe Fomby, will you return thanks for our meal?”

During the prayer, I offered my personal silent appreciation for a safe trip home.

Then I smiled, thinking about yet another piece of Berra wisdom: “Make a game plan and stick to it. Unless it’s not working.”

Mine worked. I wound up where I wanted to be. And that is the story of my only Lions Club perfect attendance pin.

Driving while license invalid._ DWI; open container._ Possession of a controlled substance; failure to maintain financial responsibility._ No driver’s license. DWI; open container; possession of a controlled substance._ Possession of a controlled substance.

Assault; ICE detainee.

No driver’s license. Possession of a controlled substance. DWI. DWI. DWI.

Driving while license invalid; failure to stop and render aid. Assault. Possession of a controlled substance.

No driver’s license.

JUNE 30

No insurance._ Possession of a controlled substance; unlawful carry of a weapon._ Theft._ DWI. Possession of a controlled substance.

No insurance.

JULY 1_

Driving while license invalid; ICE detainee._ Reckless driving._ Possession of a controlled substance. _ Evading arrest; theft; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle._ No driver’s license._ Theft; public intoxication. Possession of a controlled substance.

JULY 2_

Injury to a child/elderly/disabled person._ Injury to a child/elderly/disabled person._ Driving while license invalid._ Possession of a controlled substance.

Assault.

Evading arrest; failure to identify; ICE detainee.

Possession of a controlled substance.

Possession of drug paraphernalia.

JULY 3_

Aggravated assault of a child._ Aggravated robbery._ Public intoxication._ Harassment. Possession of a controlled substance; failure to identify; burglary of vehicles; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

JULY 4_

Possession of a controlled substance. _ Driving while license suspended._ Resisting arrest._ Organized theft; theft of property. DWI. Possession of a controlled substance.

Driving while license suspended.

The governor had previously touted Texas as “the epicenter of (artificial intelligence) development.”

A recent poll by the University of Texas at Austin found that 62% of rural Texans, who vote heavily Republican, support the measure, the paper noted. Seven counties — Hays, Caldwell, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Somervell and Van Zandt — have now called for either a special session or for the issue of regulating data center construction to be a top priority at the next regular legislative session in January.

At a campaign stop in East Texas, Abbott reiterated the restrictions he has called for, including that new centers need to “bring their own power, reuse their own water and do it in a way that reduces electricity costs for residents across our state.”

More than 480 “large” data centers have requested permission to connect to the ERCOT grid through 2032, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates most of the state’s power grid.

MOST ARRESTED BY ICE IN TEXAS HAVE NO CRIMINAL CONVICTION A Houston Chronicle examination of immigrant arrest and detention data from February 2025 to February 2026 concludes that, despite President Donald Trump’s vow to deport the “worst of the criminals,” a plurality of those arrested in Texas did not have criminal convictions or pending charges.

Statistics from the Deportation Data Project, which uses the federal Freedom of Information Act to obtain internal government immigration data, indicate during that period, more than 38,100 immigrants with clean records were arrested in Texas, compared with 30,670 arrests of people with criminal convictions and about 22,720 with pending charges.

The number of arrests in Texas nearly doubled between February 2025 and February 2026, with arrests of non-criminals more than quadrupling during that period. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has often touted its arrests and detentions of criminal immigrants without providing proof of what crimes have been committed, according to the Chronicle report.

“ICE’s use of detainers to imprison people without due process and, in many cases, without any charges pending or probable cause of any violation has raised serious constitutional concerns,” the American Civil Liberties Union wrote in a policy brief.

ABBOTT APPOINTS HUFFINES AS STATE COMPTROLLER Proving the adage that politics make for strange bedfellows, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed the man who ran against him for governor just four years ago to be state comptroller for the rest of 2026. Don Huffines, a former state senator, defeated Kelly Hancock in the GOP primary for the position.

Abbott had appointed Hancock, a former state senator, to the post when Glen Hegar resigned to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.

The Texas Tribune reported that Hancock is stepping down, effective at the end of this month.

“Don Huffines brings the right mix of business experience and conservative principles to this vital office,” Abbott said in a statement announcing the appointment.

Huffines, a 68-year-old businessman from the Dallas area, faces state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, in the November general election. She blasted the appointment, saying Huffines “can’t win on his own.”

The comptroller is responsible for key financial duties, including collecting taxes, auditing state agency spending and administering the state’s new $1 billion school voucher program.

REPORT DETAILS ‘CASCADING FAILURES’ AT CAMP MYSTIC One year after devastating floods in the Hill Country claimed 139 lives, including 25 campers and three staff members at Camp Mystic, a report commissioned by state lawmakers describes a “cascade of failures” at the camp on July 4 of last year.

The report was prepared by investigators Casey Garrett and Michael Massengale, a former appeals court judge. Massengale said there was no written evacuation plan, no training for camp staff to prepare for an evacuation, and no practice drills, according to the Texas Standard.

“There were warnings, including early flood alerts leading up to the flood, that should have put the leaders of Camp Mystic on alert to be watchful and prepared,” Massengale said. The only member of senior leadership who awakened was Dick Eastland, the main leader and patriarch of the family-owned camp. He died during the flood while trying to evacuate a cabin of girls.

The camp did not open this summer, and its owners recently filed for bankruptcy.

GOP TO HOLD FIRST NATIONAL MIDTERM CONVENTION IN DALLAS Calling it a “rally like none other,” President Donald Trump announced the Republican Party plans to hold its first national midterm convention in Dallas in hopes of energizing voters ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Organizers said the event will blend elements of a traditional political convention with a Trump-centered program. Questions remain about the details, but a date and place have been set — Sept. 9-10 inside the American Airlines Center.

“We’re very excited about Dallas. We’re excited to work with the people in Dallas. It’s going to be a phenomenal event,” said Joe Gruters, Republican National Committee chairman.

BOATERS URGED TO ‘CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY’ Texans are taking to the water in droves, as they do every summer. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is urging boaters, paddlers and anglers to help protect the state’s lakes from aquatic invasive species.

“While we want everyone to have a great time, we also want to avoid giving harmful invasive species free rides to new lakes,” said Brian Van Zee of TPWD. The best way to do that, he added, is to take a few minutes to clean, drain and dry boats after every lake visit.

State law requires boaters to do so and to drain all onboard receptacles, such as bait buckets.

Two of the biggest threats to Texas lakes are zebra mussels and giant salvinia, both of which continue to spread to new areas, biologists said.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email gborders @texaspress.com.

July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the United States officially became its own nation. Annually, this day symbolizes freedom, and it became a national holiday in 1941.

I recall visiting Williamsburg, Virginia, and the overwhelming sense of patriotism I felt as I watched a documentary about our founding fathers, and the excruciating choices individuals and families made to ensure victory and freedom.

It’s good for me to reflect on the why of our celebrations.

The Bible speaks of freedom too, Galatians 5:13 says, “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.

An interesting thing to ponder comes from 1 Corinthians 8:9: “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”

Like our national freedom, Christian freedom was costly. Jesus Himself paid the ultimate price.

He gave Himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at His appointed time (1 Timothy 2:6). Jesus declared His mission in Luke, as prophesied in Isaiah 61:1: “…to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

Each one of us was a captive to sin prior to salvation — and the penalty was death. Jesus paid that cost and won our freedom from sin and death.

Freedom, in Galatians 5:13, is called liberty: “true liberty is living as we should, not as we please.”

Christian freedom and American freedom accomplish more as we work together toward a worthy goal. Scripture has many verses about our need for each other.

I observe lots of “together projects” around Elgin and Bastrop County. I watch people expend themselves serving and providing for others. We have freedom to love our neighbor, as we remember that each person bears the image of God (Imago Dei).

Every human is created in God’s likeness, with unique qualities reflecting some of the attributes of God. This automatically assigns value and worth to each one. We have inherent dignity given to us by God the Creator.

Christians celebrate freedom from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus’ resurrection ensures that death is a transition for believers, not the final end.

Our freedom requires thoughtfulness toward others. Kindness. Consideration. Care.

Until next week, Anita

Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.

The Purple and White Jubilee, first established in 2010, featured the presentation of Distinguished Alumni, Distinguished Service and Legacy of Excellence awards recognizing graduates in business, community service, education and the arts. A nine-member selection committee reviewed 13 eligible Distinguished Alumni nominations before selecting recipients based on nominator submissions and letters of recommendation.

Committee member Debbie Cartwright said the quality of this year’s nominees reflected well on the selection process.

“I was pleased with the awardees who were selected and believed that each of them were highly qualified and distinguished,” Cartwright said.

Cartwright said community interest in the nomination process has grown with each reunion.

“People are realizing that this is really happening and this is really going to continue to happen,” she said.

The next reunion is planned for 2030.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is marking July with a series of free, family- friendly community events officials say are designed to bring neighbors together and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Parks and Recreation Month festivities began with the Family Free Swim July 3 at Morris Memorial Pool and wrap with the Community Block Party July 31 at Veterans Memorial Park. Grace Perez, who has worked for the city for five years and served as program coordinator for the last two, said she has seen attendance steadily increase as Elgin continues to grow.

“It’s just a great opportunity for the neighbors to get to know each other and create more of a community bond,” she said.

The July schedule also includes Family Field Day from 6-8 p.m. July 10 at Elgin Memorial Park, featuring tug-of-war, potato sack races and water games alongside friendly competitions against city staff. July 17 brings free pickleball, volleyball and other games at the Elgin Recreation Center and July 24 features SPLASH! at Thomas Memorial Park, held in partnership with North Bastrop County Fire Rescue and Kona Ice of Bastrop County.

Perez said the annual celebration reflects the department’s mission of creating chances for residents to connect while improving their physical and mental well-being. The city’s programming continues year-round and encourages residents of all ages to seek recreational opportunities.

Outside of July, the department offers more than 200 unique programs — from youth activities and teen gatherings to events for “Prime Timers,” the city’s group for adults 55 and older.

“We are always working on providing new programming for the community,” Perez said.

Event details are available at elgintexas.gov.

Officers discovered the body of Sonya Martinez Guerra, 55, at 108-A Anderson Drive on the afternoon of June 30. An investigation revealed she had sustained trauma to her body.

Police have identified Christopher Vargas, 33, as a person of interest in connection with the death.

As of July 6, Vargas was being held in the Hays County Jail in San Marcos on unrelated charges and awaits transfer to the Bastrop County Jail, where he will be held on a $1 million bond for burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another crime.

Additional charges and a higher bond amount are possible as the investigation continues, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Dylan Judd at 512-285-5757 or Dylan.Judd@ElginTexas.gov.

Families and community members gathered July 4 at Elgin VFW Post 6115 to celebrate America’s

250th birthday with a day of patriotic activities, live music, food and craft vendors, children’s games and a silent auction before a fireworks display capped the evening. The celebration began with a public reading of the Constitution and included a community sing-along and birthday cake honoring the nation’s semiquincentennial, drawing residents together for Independence Day festivities along Old Sayers Road.

Photos by Frank Gagliano

Jacob Johns, 43, was taken into custody by officers with the Elgin Police Department on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Johns was arrested on a warrant from the Bastrop Police Department and is currently in the Bastrop County Jail. 

More on this story can be seen in the Elgin Courier.