The Moulton Eagle 2024 year in review Highlighting January through April
The end of 2024 is upon us and its time to highlight the top stories of the Eagle that took place 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. 25 issue.
JANUARY
The year began with James Foster taking the oath to serve as the Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace… Unfortunately, two well-known men left us with former police chief and city alderman Elmo Grant and longtime newspaper publisher Buddy Preuss both passing away during the first week of the month. Both men left behind a legacy to their profession… The 72nd annual Straight Domino title went to Gary Fuller of Hallettsville and Kevin Tesch of Moulton. They defeated Louis Kolos of Hallettsville and Ade Agbogun of Houston. Al North and Darrell Hardway, both of El Campo took third place, while John Flannery of New Boston and Larry Jackson of Bokchito, Oklahoma finished fourth and Sylvester Martinez and Mark Padierna, both of Victoria ended in fifth place. The Hallettsville pair of Jeremy Judd and Harvey Woytek won the consolation bracket with Wink Bludau of Hallettsville and Marty Patek of Sweet Home finishing in second place. Third place in consolation went to Ronnie Klekar of Hallettsville and Tommy Neskora of Moulton. Hallettsville’s John Munson and Kenneth Curtis of Wharton were inducted into the Texas Domino Hall of Fame… The annual Moulton Jr. Livestock Show was held with Bailey Petrek displaying the Grand Champion Steer and Olivia Gonzales exhibiting the Reserve Grand Champion. Cole Holt showed the Grand Champion Swine and Seth Beyer had reserve grand. The grand champion lamb was exhibited by Addisyn Greive, while Rena Pierce displayed the reserve champion lamb. Taylor Self showed the grand champion pen of broilers and the reserve champion broilers were exhibited by Karsyn Blahuta… Lavaca County treasurer Karen Bludau announced her retirement… The final week of January saw the area soaked with 9.63 inches of rain. Temperatures ranged from a high of 77 degrees on Jan. 11 and a low of 17 degrees on Jan. 17.
FEBRUARY
The University Interscholastic League’s annual biennial realignment of schools took place with Moulton placed in Region IV District 30-A. The Bobkatz and Bobkittens will compete against Austwell-Tivoli, Matagorda, Nordheim, Prairie Lea, Runge and Waelder… After winning their bi-district game over Richards, the Bobkittens finished as area finalist falling to D’Hanis… Moulton native Johanna Neskora appeared on the popular “Price is Right” show… The Bobkatz defeated Dime Box in bi-district and Knippa in the area basketball play, but were knocked from the playoffs in the regional tournament losing to Fayetteville… Heavy storms hit the area during the early part of the month bringing high winds and good downpours. Highs averaged 72 degrees, while lows averaged 52 degrees.
MARCH
The 75th annual Awards and Membership Banquet of the Moulton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture was held with Brenda Kram presented the Distinguished Citizen Award. Danny Dvorak was recognized with the Chamber Appreciation Award while Trenton Meisetschleager was named as the Outstanding Senior… The Kittens started their softball season going 4-1 in their first five games… Voters went to the polls in early March with a three-candidate race between incumbent Micah Harmon, Steven Greenwell and Anthony Vaccaro vying for county sheriff. After the election Harmon and Greenwell would face off in a run-off. James Reeves defeated incumbent Kyle Denney for county attorney, while incumbent Pct. 1 commissioner Edward Pustka kept his seat defeating challenger Travis Henderson. Donald J. Trump carried the Republican Party primary for U.S. president, while incumbent president Joe Biden won the Democrat Party primary… The Moulton High School One-Act Play won the district championship… Bobkat Trenton Meisetschleager and Bobkitten Aracell Vazquez were selected to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) All-Region team… The Moulton Little League held opening day ceremonies. This year the Little League had approximately 90 players competing in different levels… The District 30-A all-district basketball teams were released. On the boys side, Trenton Meisetschleager was named District MVP, while teammate Talan Darilek was selected Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Landon Chaloupka and Seth Lopez were both picked on the first-team, Tyler Siegel and Seth Beyer were named to the second team and Ricky Santana received honorable mention. Bobkittens Addison Simper was selected District MVP and Audrey Swinford was picked as Offensive Player of the Year. Araceli Vasquez and Estefania Colchado both were selected on the first team, while Abygail Tinajero and Karsyn Blahuta were named to the second team… Sacred Heart Catholic Church pastor Msgr. John Peters was inducted into the South Texas Polka Hall of Fame… Tammy Koerth was sworn in as county treasurer… The MHS One-Act play cast won bi-district and advanced to the next level… March was another month of good downpours hitting the area with over four inches rain including hail. Daytime highs averaged 77 degrees, while lows averaged 58 degrees.
APRIL
Shiner St. Paul junior Dallyn Pesek was named the 2024 Miss Houston Teen Texas… Kenzie Dvorak and Trenton Meisetschleager were named MHS Prom queen and king… The MHS academic team captured the district championship as well as the Bobkittens’ golf team. The Bobkatz’ golfers placed second in district… Bobkitten Aby Tinajero brought home a gold medal in the 400-meters at the regional track meet to qualify for the UIL State Track and Field Championships… Ninety-two year old local fiddler Daniel Jasek competed in the Texas State Championship Fiddlers Frolics and brought home third place in his division… The MHS One-Act Play qualified for the UIL One-Act Play contest. They were one of 12 in Conference 1A… This month produced decent rainfall and temperatures began to rise. Daytime highs averaged 83 degrees and lows averaged 65.2 degrees.