2023 Tribune Year in Review

The year is coming to an end and its time to review the top stories of the Tribune-Herald that took place in 2023.

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 the September through December months covered in the December 27 issue.

January:

As the year began Lavaca County Judge Keith Mudd took his oath of office… 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 Kouba. 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… Jerry and Marian Lackey were named American Legion Post 230 Legionnaire Family of the Year… The Hallettsville Brahmas and Lady Brahmas played its first soccer games as the new sport was introduced at the school… 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 71st annual Texas State Championship Straight Domino Tournament was held with Al North and Darrell Hardaway, both of El Campo defeating Dave Ballard of Fresno and Haven Keys of Houston to win the championship. Third place went to Louis Kolos of Tivoli and Ade Agbogon of Houston, while Joey Henke of Poth and David Scott Henke of Hallettsville were fourth and Jayden Blevins of Victoria and Jim Patterson of Lockhart finished fifth. At the tournament, William (Joe) Buzek, Sammie Judd, David Scott Henke and David “Rat” Schauteet were inducted into the Texas Domino Hall of Fame… After serving 13 years as the head coach/ athletic director at HISD and 34 years in teaching and coaching, Tommy Psencik, announced his retirement from education… Hallettsville ISD was informed from the Texas Education Agency that the district received a superior score in Texas Schools FIRST Finance Integrity Rating… The 60th annual Hallettsville Jr. Livestock Show was held with Kyle Svetlik exhibiting the Grand Champion Steer, while Wyatt Leopold displayed the reserve champion. The Grand Champion Lamb was shown by Lucy Leopold and the reserve went to Lane Leopold. Madison Mikes exhibited the Grand Champion Swine, while Leo Arlen Henke showed the reserve champion. The Grand Champion Broilers were shown by Edward Kubenka and the reserve pen of chickens were displayed by Lanie Haas. Morgan Felcman showed the Grand Champion Goat with the reserve champion going to Lane Leopold. Layne Gerke was named the Commercial Heifer Show Grand Champion with Ryan Janak receiving reserve champion honors… The 91st Annual Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce and Agricultural Banquet was held with Jeanette Henke named Citizen of the Year. Mary Ann Defibaugh was recognized with the Hospitality Award. Braxton Baranowski (HHS) and Brett Sestak (SHCHS) were named Outstanding Senior Students… Sacred Heart senior Katy Kostelnik was named Queen of the Lavaca County Chapter of the Czech Heritage Society… 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…Hallettsville High School athletes Bailee Wagner and Lauren Lundy qualified for the UIL State Swimming Meet… 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:

The Hallettsville City Council tabbed Breana Kristek to head the Friench Simpson Memorial Library following the retirement of library director Brenda Lincke-Fisseler… Sacred Heart Catholic School science teacher, Geralyn Klimitchek, was honored as High School Teacher of the Year by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops… The Indians fell to Conroe Covenant in a TAPPS Division IV bi-district basketball game… Brad Gohlke began his first year at HHS as the Brahma baseball coach… The Hallettsville Knights of Columbus Council No. 2433 celebrated its 100 year as a council… Lavaca Medical Center was named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital across the entire United States… Cam’ron Alamilla and Dara DeBord were named HHS Prom king and queen… Former HHS graduate, Levi Montgomery, was named as the new head football coach/AD at Hallettsville ISD… The Sacred Heart Indianettes captured the TAPPS Division IV state basketball championship by defeating Lubbock All-Saints Episcopal in the state title game… The Lady Brahmas were eliminated from the UIL basketball playoff losing in the area round to Lytle… Frances Michalec retired after 28 years in healthcare at LMC… 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:

Calvin Harbaugh and Rebecca Chovanec Deen, both of La Grange, took first place in the annual 42 domino tournament. Dave Reed, of Dallas, and Zach Bimslager, of College Station were second, while Katie Campbell, of Houston and Houston Oates, of Dallas finished third and Don Flowers, of Round Rock and Deb Ebersole, of Lakeway, took fourth… 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… Hallettsville HS cross-country runner, Nathan Sandelovic, signed a letter of intent with Texas Lutheran University (TLU) in Seguin… United States congressman, Michael Cloud, made a visit to Hallettsville meeting with citizens at the Cabo San Lucas restaurant… The Hallettsville Little League held opening day ceremonies with Dale Halata throwing the ceremonial first pitch… Hallettsville HS, Braxton Baranowski signed a letter of intent with Wharton County JC to be part of their rodeo team… The annual South Texas Polka and Sausage Fest was held with the late Roger Janak inducted into the South Texas Polka Hall of Fame… 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.

April:

Ezzell ISD received a FFA chapter with the announcement coming at the 95th annual Texas State FFA convention… Sacred Heart HS track/cross country runner, Katie Kostelnik, signed a letter of intent to TLU in Seguin… Two Lady Brahma doubles teams, Addis Fairchild and Hillory Higgins, and April Leopold and Olivia Etzler qualified for the UIL Region IV tennis tournament… Several heavy downpours brought a total of 5.23 inches of rain and sent the Navidad River to flood stage with low-land flooding. Rains received on April 6 amounted to 4.03 inches, which was the most received on one day since Jan. 31, 2022…Brahma lineman, Michael McAfee, signed a letter of intent to play football at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene… HHS seniors Cam’ron Alamilla and Emma Davenport were selected Mr. and Miss Hallettsville High School… Well-known domino hall, Saguaro Country, was totally lost when a fire ripped through the place… The 52nd annual Texas State Championship Fiddlers Frolics was held with Carl Hopkins, of Porter, winning his sixth championship out-fiddling Jason Andrew of Whitewright and Shira Ellisman of Kingwood… The Sacred Heart Band captured the TAPPS state band championship held in Temple… Damarion Austin, a member of the HHS track team, set a school record winning three gold medals at the Region IV-3A track and field championships… The Tribune-Herald welcomed new reporter Clayton Kelley to the Lavaca County news team… Lady Brahma tennis duo, Olivia Etzler and April Leopold qualified for the UIL State Tennis Tournament… Brahma wide receiver/defensive back, De’Keidris Bedford, signed a letter of intent to play football at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene… The month saw a good abundance of rain totalling 9.62 inches with April 6 having over four inches. Daytime highs averaged 79 degrees, while lows averaged 60.7 degrees.