2023 Tribune Year in Review

This week is the second part of the three-part series and we will look at the highlights of the Tribune-Herald for May through August .

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

May:

Sacred Heart Catholic HS held its annual AllAwards Banquet with Kobi Valchar and Bailey Haas named Best All-Around athletes… SHCS welcomed its new Athletic Director and head football coach, Alex Seydler… Lady Brahmas doubles tennis team, Olivia Etzler and April Leopold participated in the UIL State Tennis Tournament… Alice Summers retained her seat as Hallettsville City mayor, while Billy Barrera was elected to the Place 2 City Council position. In the HISD Board race, Ryan C. Bludau was elected to the Place 6 seat on the board… Former Brahma baseball player, Nathan Haas, was named to the East Texas Baptist University Tiger Athletics Hall of Fame… The Indianettes saw their hopes of winning a TAPPS Softball state championship fall as they lost to St. Paul in the semi-finals of the state tournament. The Indians also had their state championship dreams diminish when they lost to Red Oak Ovilla in the TAPPS 2A state baseball final… The Indianettes golf team finished 3rd at the TAPPS 2A state golf tournament, while members of the Brahma track and field team, De’Keidris Bedford, J’Marion Scott, Layne Gerke, Rashaun Sidney and Damarion Austin competed in the UIL State Track and Field Championships meet… Forrest Timm was named Firefighter of the Year by the Hallettsville Volunteer Fire Department… Sacred Heart Catholic High School held its commencement exercises with 20 seniors receiving their diplomas. Brett Sestak was named valedictorian with Bailey Haas, salutatorian and Arianna Henke, Historian… Hallettsville High School held its graduation ceremonies with 87 seniors up for graduation. Kaitlyn Ward was named valedictorian with Lindsey Pohl named salutatorian and Brandt Trlicek, honor student…HHS held its annual Sports Award ceremony with Brandt Trlicek, De’Keidras Bedford and Briley Rother named Athletes of the Year… Indianettes Bailey Haas and Jules Janak were named to the TAPPS 2A all-state basketball team, while Aleigh Kraatz was selected to the second-team… The Lady Brahmas saw their chance of winning backto-back state championships go down as they lost to Santa Gertrudis in the Region IV semi-finals… SHCS placed second in the elementary division of the State Private School Interscholastic Association academic meet… Blake Reed became the first graduate at Ezzell High School… Tobi Appelt was chosen as Woman of the Year by Beta Sigma Phi… The Brahmas run through the UIL baseball playoffs ended with a loss to defending state champs, Corpus Christi London in the regional 3A semi-finals… Appelt’s Hill Gun Club celebrated its 141 years of the May King Feast… 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:

Long-time HPD secretary, Pam Cinadr, retired from the department after serving 42 years and eight months… Indians Kobi Valchar, Tyler Hawkins and Ty Noska were selected to the TAPPS 2A all-state baseball team. Wade Shimek, Josh Terry and Emerson Harvey were honorable mention selections… Lady Brahma Briley Rother signed a track letter of intent with Texas Lutheran University in Seguin… Indianette Bailey Haas signed a letter of intent to continue playing softball at the University of Dallas, while Indian Kobi Valchar signed with Texas A&M-Kingsville to play baseball… The Peoples State Bank Giants claimed the Hallettsville Little League championship… Sacred Heart/St. Paul band director, Jake Heck was presented the Fine Arts Director of the Year Award at the TAPPS convention… With the resignation of HISD Board of Trustee president, Robert Lundy, the board elected Brian Smith as the new president. Also, Mason Briscoe was promoted to HHS principal… HHS student, Adalyn Pohl, competed in the UIL Academic Meet placing fifth in Literary Criticism… The Lavaca County Historical Commission was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award by the Texas Historical Commission… The Indianettes had seven players named to the TAPPS 2A all-state softball team including first-team selections Rylan Dworsky, Haley Noska, Ava Lackey, Katherine Pavliska, Aracely Guzman and Ella Demel. Karley Kostelnik was selected to the second-team… Ezzell ISD announced that it would move to a fourday school week… Little league all-star teams were in full play with six of the teams advancing to sectional tournaments… Sacred Heart Catholic High School claimed the TAPPS 2A Henderson Cup for winning a number of state championships during the year… Rainfall was meager during the month with less than four tenths of an inch falling in June. Daytime highs averaged 97.1 degrees with lows averaging 76.3 degrees.

July:

HHS brothers Rashaun Sidney and Rhaden Sidney competed in the National High School Rodeo Finals held in Wyoming… County fire department fire chiefs formed an association known as the Lavaca County Fire Association… The Hallettsville LL Major League All-Stars lost a gut-wrenching game to Needville in the finals of the Section 4 Tournament finals. Needville advanced to the Little League World Series where they lost in the American Championship final to a team from California… A burn ban was implemented for Lavaca County due to very dry conditions… The Hallettsville LL 10u Minor League softball all-stars won the Texas East state championship for the second year in a row. The Jr. League softball team lost to Silsbee in the Texas East state tournament, while major league girls lost to Industrial in finals of the Texas East State Tournament. The Jr. League boys competed in the Section 4 tournament… After attending a football camp at Texas A&M University, Brahma athlete Layne Gerke accepted a preferred walk-on commitment to play football for the Aggies in 2024… 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:

Camry Jacob competed in the Texas State 4-H Horse Show where she made the finals in three Junior division events. As a result, Camry placed as Reserve Overall Junior Horseman… The HHS Brahmas and the SHCHS Indians began fall football workouts. The Brahmas had 70 athletes, while the Indians had 21 athletes report on the first day… In volleyball, the Lady Brahmas had 40 players, while Coach Wanda Orsak started her 33rd year as the Indianettes coach… Hallettsville ISD began school with a total of 1,150 students attending the first day, while Sacred Heart Catholic School reported a total of 320 students… The Brahmas defeated Shiner in the opening football game of the season, while the Indians opened with a win over Tomball Rosehill Christian. The wins were the debuts of both HHS coach Levi Montgomery and SHCHS Alex Seydler… Sacred Heart recognized its band sweetheart and beau at their game with Aracely Guzman chosen sweetheart and Joseph Goodwyne, beau… HISD introduced a new program at the high school involving an aerospace and aviation course for its students… For the third month in a row, the area remained dry and August became the driest month of the year. Less than one-tenth 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.