2023: Year-In-Review - Yoakum

Another year is coming to an end and its time to highlight the top stories of the Yoakum Herald-Times for 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 Dec. 27 issue.

January:

ith Mudd took his oath of office… County clerk, Liz Kouba, retired from her position after serving 42 years 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… Brian Carson was sworn-in as the new Commissioner Pct. 4… 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 Yoakum Stock Show was held with Will Robbins exhibiting the Grand Champion Steer. Other Grand Champion winners were Maggie Rempe (swine), Wyatt Hanzelka (goat), Beckham Wiederhold (rabbit), Timothy Donihoo (broilers), and Andrew Lara (Wood Agricultural Mechanics), and Kamren Meyer and Jack Meyer (Metal Agricultural Mechanics). Reserve champion winners were Olivia Wenzel (steer), Emmerson Wenske (goat), Wyatt Wiederhold (rabbit), Gage DeBord (swine) and Kallee Kifer (broilers)… 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… The 105th annual Yoakum Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet was held with William “Bill” Wimberly, posthumously presented the Paul F. Gustwick Award. Yoakum ISD Jr. High STARR Math teacher David Mendez received the Educator of the Year award, A. J. Adamek was named Yoakum C of C Leader of Tomorrow, and the Yoakum Fire Department and Yoakum Rotary Club was Spirit Service award recipient… Yoakum HS students Ella Boswell and A.J. Adamek were name Prom queen and king, while Destiny Rios and Wyatt Hanzelka were named princess and prince respectively… 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:

The 2023 Association of Texas Small School Bands All-State, All-Region and Area bands were announced with Abbie Galvan, Konner Dismuke and Rafael Quilpas selected to the All-State band. In addition, 21 students earned All-Region and 15 were name to the Area band… The Hope Livestock Show hosted its first Champion Drive with Cole Taylor showing the Grand Champion Steer, Emma Marshall, reserve champion steer; Jacob Motal, Grand Champion Hog; Ilyanna Puntos, Grand Champion Lamb; Lani Pilat, Grand Champion broilers; and Madelyn Hynes, Grand Champion Rabbits. Lani Pilat showed the GC Senior cake; Emery Kennedy, the GC Intermediate cake and Fallon Foxell, the GC Junior cake. Slade Jacobs, Autrey Marshall and Kinslee Sobotik displayed Bucket Calves… 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:

Veronica Sicko was recognized by the Yoakum Community Hospital with the January through March Rising Star Award… The Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court named Greg Murrile as the new County emergency coordinator… Local county citizens spent the day in Austin for the inaugural Lavaca County Day at the Texas State Capitol… The Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs tennis teams competed in state championship team tennis tournament in Waco… The Yoakum Little League held its open day ceremonies with Tiffany Miller throwing out the first pitch for softball and John Olivarez throwing the first pitch in baseball… DeWitt County Judge Daryl Fowler was honored by the Texas Association of Counties in meeting the requirements for obtaining Fellow status… Koy Kopecky and David Paloma, representing the Turtle Wing Foundation, threw out the first pitch at a Yoakum Bulldog baseball game… 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:

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 during the first week of April amounted to around four inches, which was the most received on one day since January 2022… E.L. Moore, former fast-pitch softball player and longtime umpire, joined the National Fast Pitch Legends at a ceremony conducted in Houston… Yoakum ISD was honored with the Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation… The Herald-Times welcomed new reporter Clayton Kelley to the Lavaca County news team… 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.