Sierra Brockman (center) wears the crown as the 2026 Madison County Fair Queen alongside 1st Runner-Up Audrie Busa (right) and 2nd Runner-Up Madison McClure (left), who also earned the Miss Photogenic title.

Commissioners reevaluate after drainage bids come in high Madison County commissioners voted Tuesday to reject all six offers for a state-funded drainage improvement project after each bid came in well over budget. The Texas General Land Office grant covers $730,000 for drainage work across all four precincts, commissioners said March 24.

FIRST BAPTIST WOMEN REFLECT AT ANNUAL RETREAT

The completed Sexual Assault Response Team biennial report for Madison County is now public, covering two years of data on how local agencies respond to adult sexual assault cases. The Sexual Assault Resource Center compiled the report from data submitted by each of the nine agencies on the team.

Thomas Beck, born into slavery in Kentucky around 1819, won election to the Texas House three times and represented Madison County for nearly a decade after emancipation. On Saturday, April 11, a state historical marker will be unveiled in his honor at 11 a.m. on the south side of the Madison County Courthouse lawn.

Families and supporters pack the pavilion at the Madison County Fairgrounds on Thursday, March 19, as the 2026 Madison County Fair and Rodeo kicks off with opening ceremonies, the FCS Auction, and the coronation of Sierra Brockman as Fair Queen.

Madisonville Sidewalk Cattlemen's Association President Blake Pipes (left) stands with past presidents Danny Wilkerson, Matt Clark, DL Shiver, and Brent Viator at the Madison County Courthouse horse trough on Friday, March 20. 

NORTH ZULCH — North Zulch Independent School District board members approved the 2026-27 school calendar and worked through a long list of facility problems during their meeting March 12. The board unanimously adopted calendar D, one of four options a district committee put together.

The Lady Mustangs capped a near perfect season and unbeaten district scorecard Monday with a 2-1 win over Palestine to claim the program’s first outright district championship. The Madisonville High School varsity girls soccer team finished 12-0 in District 16-4A with their victory against the Wildcats at Mustang Stadium March 16.