Mrs. Veronica R. Landmann and the late Mr. Donald L. Grooms Jr. are so very happy to announce the engagement of their son Lukas A. Grooms to Miss Lindsey Costilla. Lindsey is the daughter of Ms. Rosalba Hernandez of Conroe and Mr. Sheldon Scott Rudish of College Station. Truly missed during this special time are the groom's father, Don, and his step-father, Richard "Rick" Landmann. An October wedding is planned at the Texas Renaissance Festival.

Anti-gun violence protests were held in multiple cities across the state over the weekend, while the state has imposed additional measures designed to strengthen school security. Texas State University’s Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program will be provided to all Texas school districts.

One of Madisonville’s newer residents, Todd J. Rowe, aka T.J., recently talked about why he is here and his work. He first stated, “I’m Italian. I’ve been cooking my whole life. When I was 15, I was cooking professionally at a pizza parlor. When I was 21, I studied at a culinary school in Colorado. Recently I worked in West Hollywood, California, as well as a head chef in Austin for two years before my parents approached me about assuming the same here in Madisonville. I’m just good at cooking; it comes naturally.”

Last week, Earl Wayne Parten came into the Museum carrying a tattered and yellowed newspaper article about the Madison Hotel and Mrs. Ida Brown. Ads on the back proved it came from an old Meteor. An accompanying photo includes Budgie Burke, Bonne Hendrix, Lynda Breeding, Patricia Stephenson, Mary Ann Caldwell, and Ann Richie, all holding signs that say “This building matters” and standing in front of the Madison Hotel, probably between 1995 and 2005. The caption states that group was with the Madison County Historical Commission at that time.

As the heat climbs to double digits here in Texas, an Iowa friend messaged me that all entrances to Yellowstone National Park are closed temporarily due to “heavy flooding, rockslides s and extremely hazardous conditions.”

In the early hours of Friday, June 10, the Madison County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of the Walker County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Normangee Police Department, and the Madisonville Police Department, executed a search warrant on a residence in Madisonville.

Juneteenth has been a festive occasion in Texas for well over 150 years, and this year will be no different here. Madisonville Fun A group of local young people got together to plan this year’s Juneteenth activities here in town.