2023: YEAR-IN-REVIEW - YOAKUM

In this week’s issue we will look at the highlights for middle months of the year including May through August.

The months of September through December will close our year in review in next week’s Dec. 27 issue.

MAY:

The Yoakum Community Hospital named Polly Wright and Nancy McNease, as 2022 Pink Ladies of the Year… Yoakum ISD voters approved three of four bond elections amounting to $31.7 million… In the city election, Charles L. Hall defeated incumbent Glenn Klander for the Place 2 seat on City Council… The Lady Bulldogs softball season came to end when they lost to Jourdanton in the area round of the playoffs… Heavy rains fell in the Yoakum area causing low lying areas and street flooding… Lady Bulldog, Jayana Phillips brought home a silver medal in the triple jump at the UIL State Track and Field Championships. Also competing at the meet were the Bulldog 4x100 relay team of Jayden Jones, Kadarius Price, Qyion Williams, Chase Polk and Zach Taylor…

Yoakum Assistant Fire Chief and Emergency Medical Services director, Nick Kresta, received the Rising Star Award at the Mid-Coast Hurricane Conference… Yoakum ISD held its graduation exercises with Dru Zinke named valedictorian and Cameron Williams named salutatorian… May turned out to be a wet month with over seven inches falling. Daytime highs averaged 87.1 degrees, while lows averaged 70 degrees.

JUNE:

The Yoakum Tom Tom Royalty was named with Gabriella Rodriguez crowned Miss Yoakum. Other royalty members included Grady Zimmerman (Little Mister), Avlynn Kloesel (Little Miss), Ella Kremling (Little Princess), Maddox Mayer (Little Prince), Hayley Riley (Junior Miss) and Mia Garcia (Young Miss)… The Lavaca County Historical Commission was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award by the Texas Historical Commission… Lady Bulldog track athlete, Jayana Phillips, was selected to the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) Girl’s Track Super Elite 3A team… Ezzell ISD announced that it would move to a four-day school week… Rainfall was meager during the month with less than four tenths of inch falling in June. Daytime highs average 97.1 degrees with lows averaging 76.3 degrees.

JULY:

The Yoakum Junior High and High School Bands’ UIL Contest recordings advanced to state in San Antonio… County fire department fire chiefs formed an association known as the Lavaca County Fire Association… A burn ban was implemented for Lavaca County due to very dry conditions…

Thirteen Yoakum High School FFA members attended the 95th Annual Texas FFA Convention. Gage DeBord, Wyatt Hanzelka, Maggie Rempe, Will Robbins and Sam Sanchez received Lone Star FFA degrees, while Gracee Respondek received a silver rating on her Agri-science Fair Project and Lane Hagan competed as the Area 11 FFA winner Star Greenhand…

The DeWitt County 4-H Shotgun Team competed in the State 4-H Shoot held in San Antonio. Members who competed included Ty Fehner, Connor Thigpen, Gunnar Frank, Kaitlyn Roeder, Wyatt James, Brylon Brewer, Carter Roeder and Elias Gomez. Brewer won second place in the Class B Whizbang round and first in Class C American Trap.

Roeder was first in junior American trap, second in Whizbang as well as placing fourth in two other events and fifth in two events. Roeder was declared the American Junior HOA runner-up in Shotgun Shootout and runner-up in Gun Smoke… July followed the previous month’s pattern of hot and dry conditions with under four tenths total inches of rain seen over three different days. The highs averaged 101.3 with 25 days topping the 100 degree mark. Daytime lows averaged 76 degrees.

AUGUST:

Kaspar Companies announced they had acquired Yoakum’s Circle Y Saddles… Community members honored eight Janak brothers, who served in both World War II and the Korean War during ceremonies held at the Sweet Home Queen of Peace Cemetery… Yoakum ISD began its 2023-24 school term and welcomed 23 new educators to the its staff… Wanting to go in a different direction, the Yoakum City Council decided to part ways with long-time city manager, Kevin Colman… The Yoakum FD named James Herchek as Career Firefighter of the Year and Jason Henry as Volunteer Firefighter of the Year… The Bulldogs opened their 2023 football season with a win over Vanderbilt Industrial…

For the third month in a row, the area remained dry and August became the driest month of the year. Less than onetenth fell during the month and August became the hottest month on record. Daytime highs averaged 105.1 with 30 days reaching highs above 102. Low averages came in at 79.3.