Skip the couch. Ditch the ball drop on TV.

Families browse vendor booths and enjoy train rides at Winterfest on Monday, Dec. 15 in the Madisonville High School parking lot. The Mustang Band fundraiser featured food trucks, an ornament workshop, bounce house and live Christmas music.

Students and staff at Madisonville Junior High line up for breakfast tacos from Gina’s Café on Thursday, Dec. 18. Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, Madison County and the local food truck provided the free meal to teachers, staff and students before the holiday break.

North Zulch Independent School District trustees are considering a teacher accreditation program that could turn classroom aides into certified educators at no cost to them.

Alex Mooney, an 11th grade North Zulch FFA member, places a wreath on a veteran's grave in Madisonville Cemetery Dec. 13 for Wreaths Across America.

The trial of a former Madison County deputy continued Dec. 11 with testimony from federal agents, state investigators and forensic analysts outlining a decadeslong investigation into an alleged sexual assault.

A pair of stolen vehicles turned up in Madison County Thursday, Dec. 11, where officials said neither belonged.

Madisonville leaders last week weighed bumping the city’s elections back half a year before moving forward with local litigation and a renewed tax collection contract. The city may move general elections from May to November to better accommodate the community.

The following persons were arrested or booked into the Madison County jail on Sunday, December 7. through Sunday, December 14.