North Zulch Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) advanced two Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) teams the state meeting in Dallas April 8-10. The two teams included their Interpersonal Communications team (consisting of Summer Benham, Jannat Sunny and Bryce Lide), who placed third, as well as their Promote and Publicize FCCLA team (consisting of Luis Garcia, Fasial Sattar and Ali Sunny).

Even though Texas has felt a little cooler in recent days, things are heating up in your State Capitol - so let’s dive right in. The House Committee on Transportation met for a public hearing on Tuesday for eight hours to listen to and discuss public and stakeholder testimony. This committee covers a wide range of issues, from vehicle registration fees which fund local transportation projects, to improving peace officer’s ability to enforce commercial motor vehicle safety standards. The most prominent challenge this session is finding available funds for transportation projects across the state after last year’s decline of gas tax revenue due to the pandemic. With the diverse committee membership that ranges from urban areas to the coast to the plains, I am honored to represent the interests of East Texas.

Madisonville softball seniors (from left) Martia Tyler, Grace Williamson and Sidnie Smith pose together at their senior night at MHS April 20. The Lady Mustangs concluded their district season the same night with the league’s fourth playoff spot. The team will battle either Carthage or Jasper in the Bi-District round (the matchup was determined Tuesday night after this writing). COURTESY PHOTOS

Madisonville golfers competed in the Regional tournament for the seventh straight season and recorded a top-ten finish in Huntsville April 19-20. Sophomore Matthew DeBoisblanc finished as the fourth medalist and fifth overall, missing a state qualification by just two strokes. Other competitors for the Mustangs included Mason Railsback, Cameron Thrower, Daniel Bodenhamer and Cade Colwell. Madisonville will return all golfers to the greens next season with the exception of Colwell and Ryan Kinsey. COURTESY PHOTO

Victoria Maxeen Hinojosa, 47 years old from Madisonville, TX; passed away on Thursday April 1, 2021 in Madisonville, TX. A celebration of Victoria’s life is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday; May 1, 2021 at Day Funeral Home Chapel in Madisonville, TX with Diana Rocha officiating minister. The burial will follow at a later date at Danforth Cemetery in Strafford, MO.

Curtis (Stu) Washington was born on August 17, 1949 to Iola Harrison and Tenelio Washington in Midway, Texas. Curtis was a 1964 graduate of Anahuac High School.