It’s a new year, but the news out of the capital continues to focus on COVID-19. Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted last week that “a significant portion of vaccines distributed across Texas might be sitting on hospital shelves as opposed to being given to vulnerable Texans. The state urges vaccine providers to quickly provide all shots. We get plenty more each week.” Many health providers and county health department officials responded that they were working as quickly as they could to give shots to front-line health care workers and lacked the doses necessary to move to what Texas calls phase 1B recipients. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, phase 1B recipients include those 65 and older and those 16 and older with medical conditions that would put them at greater risk from COVID-19. Various state news outlets reported Texans in phase 1B could not find any vaccine available to them yet. The state health department encouraged the public to check its website weekly for updates on vaccine availability. In the meantime, people should continue wearing a face mask when in public and follow all social distancing guidelines, health officials said.

Surely many of you know that the Ferguson Farm, or the Ferguson Unit of the Texas Department of Corrections, holds a place of importance in Madison County’s economy and the lives of many of us here. It’s been here long enough that it’s on a first-name basis for some. “Where do you work? Ferguson. Where do you live? Near Ferguson.” Located six miles south of Midway on F.M. 247, its payroll is essential to many local families.

We trust 2021 will be a year of promise and hope in our community. Our time of trial will yet continue a few months longer, but each step we take to recovery (COVID inoculations, measured social gatherings, and long delayed community celebrations) are the “light” yet too far at the end of the tunnel.

Newly elected county officials were sworn in with the new year Friday by Madison County Judge Tony Leago in the district courtroom in the presence of friends and family. Leago offered a prayer at the conclusion of the ceremony and spoke on the difficulties of the last year and the importance of continued unity moving forward into 2021.

The Son-Shine Outreach Center in Madisonville ha s always accepted and provided essential items for members of the community. For over four years, that has included numerous used dolls brought back to life through the services of former employee and current board member Mama Hughes.

The Madisonville Meteor, a county staple for more than 126 years, will return in 2021 under new ownership. Granite Publications of Taylor acquired the assets of the Meteor, effective Dec. 31, 2020, in a longterm, strategic plan designed to preserve and build upon the Meteor’s legacy, including a continued commitment to the community it serves.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) closure of OSR, which was originally scheduled to take place Wednesday, has been pushed back to Jan. 18 due to high water, the agency announced.