Gazette 2023 Year in Review

The 2023 year is coming to an end and its time to review the top stories of the Gazette that occurred during this past year.
This will be a three-part series with January through April highlighted in today’s issue, while May through August will be reviewed next week and September through December in the Dec. 27 issue.
January
As the year began Lavaca County Judge Keith Mudd along with commissioners Wayne Faircloth (Pct. 2) and Dennis W. Kocian (pct. 4) were sworn into their respective offices… County clerk, Liz Kouba, retired from her position after serving 42 years with the county and Barbara Steffek was sworn-in as the new county clerk replacing her. In addition, Mark Yackel and Steve Greenwell took their oaths as the Precinct 3 and Precinct 1, Justice of the Peace, respectively as well as Wayne Faircloth taking the oath as the new Pct. 2 commissioner… The Tribune-Herald welcomed a new employee to its staff with Michelle Price joining the team as the paper’s leading graphic designer…  County judge Keith Mudd announced the bi-monthly commissioners’ court meetings would be shown live on YouTube… A Piper-Mirage single-engine airplane, carrying five people from Tennessee crashed a few miles northeast of the Yoakum Airport in its approach to landing. Four of the five passengers, including  the owner of Circle Y, perished in the tragic accident… Sacred Heart senior Katy Kostelnik was named Queen of the Lavaca County Chapter of the Czech Heritage Society…The 2023 year got off to a healthy wet start with a total of 5.54 inches of rain falling during the month. Daytime highs averaged 69.5 degrees, while lows averaged 48.7 degrees.
February
St. Paul High School held its 2023 prom with Cortney Tuch crowned as queen and Cole Robinson as king…The Padilla Poll Coaches All-State teams were released with Comanche Dalton Brooks named Offensive Player of the Year. Teammates Ryan Peterson was chosen first team special team and second team offense, while fellow teammates Jacob Werner and Drew Wenske received first team offense honors. Jake Davidson, Beck Bishop along with Brooks and Peterson were selected to the first team defense. Wenske was also named to the second team defense… Howard Gloor was named as Citizen of the Year at the 2023 Shiner Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Banquet… Egon Barthels resigned from his position as county emergency management coordinator and accepted a similar position as Texas Division of Emergency Management county liaison officer for Lavaca County…The Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) released its 2A All-State football team with Dalton Brooks selected as Co-Defensive Player of the Year as well as first-team defensive back. Offensive lineman, Jacob Werner was selected to the third-team on offense, while seniors, linebacker Beck Bishop and defensive back Ryan Peterson received honorable mention… Kurt Gaebler of Victoria topped the adult division in the annual in the Shiner Businessman’s Club Area-wide Big Buck Contest. Will Miller of Gonzales won the youth division… The Shiner VFW Post 6209 and auxiliary announced its Voice of Democracy essay contest winners with Shiner HS students, Keira Roberts and Fernanda Arellano winning first and second place respectively. St. Paul HS winning first and second were Jacob Wachsmuth and Dallyn Pesek, respectively. Patriot’s Pen essay winners were first through third Shiner Junior High Madeline Collins, Evelyn Johnson and Alexis Boner. From St. Ludmilla Elementary were Eden Rodriguez (1st), Addy Matias (2nd) and Gabriela Rivas (3rd)… Former Lady Comanche and current UH-Victoria softball player, Cameron Cowan, was named as the Red River Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week… The Lady Cardinals were eliminated from the TAPPS basketball playoffs when they lost to Conroe Covenant Christian in bi-district action… The Lady Comanches saw their basketball season end with a loss to Evadale in the area round of the playoffs… Playing in their first basketball playoff in six years, the Comanches season ended losing to Thorndale in bi-district play… A Piper-Mirage single-engine airplane, carrying five people from Tennessee crashed a few miles northeast of the Yoakum Airport in its approach to landing. Four of the five passengers, including the owner of Circle Y, perished in the tragic accident… Shiner HS students Megan Winkenwerder, Gavin Gibson, Erich Chan and Sam Presley finished as state finalists in its first-ever film contest… The month of February was mild and a bit dry with temperatures averaging 70.9 degrees for highs and 49.8 for lows. All total there was 1.11 inches of rain for the month.
March
Shawn Haas Liska exhibited the Grand Champion Steer at the 43rd Annual Shiner FFA Stock Show, while Erin Pustka  displayed the reserve grand champion. The Grand Champion Hog was shown by Kasey Borel with Eli Tronicek exhibiting the reserve champion hog. The Grand Champion Lamb was displayed by Josie Herman and Adelynn Siegel showed the reserve champion. Cale Shows exhibited the Grand Champion Broilers with Haven Flores displaying the reserve champion… Commissioners’ Court named Greg Murrile as  the new Lavaca County emergency coordinator… Local county citizens spent the day in Austin for the inaugural Lavaca County Day at the Texas State Capitol… Lady Cardinals Anna Reeves and Brooke Cerny were selected on the TAPPS second-team all-state basketball team. Reeves, Cerny and Julia Machacek were named to the Academic All-State team… Cardinal Fisher Davis signed a letter of intent to continue his baseball and play at Texas A&M-Kingsville… The Shiner tennis team competed in the TTCA State Team Tennis Tournament in Waco and finished sixth… Registered Nurse at the Yoakum Community Hospital, Kim Mraz received the Community Health Corporation’s Dan Wilford award… Shiner HS One Act Play advanced to the UIL Regional Contest… Comanche Ryan Peterson was named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) All-Region team… The Comanche Band earned sweepstakes at the concert and sightreading contest… St. Paul Band fared well at the TAPPS solo and ensemble competition with several members receiving 1st division honors… The month of March was considered short on rain and long on wind. Just one inch was recorded for the month and temperatures averaged 78.1 degrees for highs and 59.3 degrees for lows totalling nine-plus inches with April 6 having over four inches. Daytime highs averaged 79 degrees, while lows averaged 60.7 degrees.
April
The K.Spoetzl BBQ Company opened for business with its location at the Shiner Brewery… The Shiner PD announced that Patrick McKinney joined the department as  a new patrol… The St. Paul robotics team competed in the TAPPS state robotics competition… Lady Comanche, Morgan Lenehan, was named to the Texas High School Coaches Class 2A Basketball Super Elite Team… The Shiner Jr. High seventh grade boys and girls and the eighth grade boys won team titles at the district track and field meet… The Gazette welcomed new reporter Clayton Kelley to the Lavaca County news team… Shiner Boy Scout Troop 231 bestowed Eagle Scout honors to Matthew Wagner, Andrew Guyn, Bechtel Bishop and Thomas Klozik… Lady Cardinal golfers Audrey Thibodeaux, Anna Reeves, Cortney Tuch, Emily Stamport and Riley Mozisek captured the TAPPS Class 2A state golf championships. They were coached by Nicco Brown and assistant coach Pat Chilek. The Cardinals finished sixth overall… Comanche Dalton Brooks set a regional record in the long jump with a leap of 23 feet 8 3/4 inches… The month saw a good abundance of rain totalling nine-plus inches with April 6 having over four inches. Daytime highs averaged 79 degrees, while lows averaged 60.7 degrees.