Football season is just around the corner with the Madisonville Mustangs’ varsity squad slated to open their season Aug. 27 against Diboll at MHS. The Mustangs will again compete in the extremely competitive District 10-4A (DII) with defending state champion Carthage, Jasper, Center, Rusk and Shepherd.

Both the Madisonville and North Zulch volleyball teams will see action Friday with scrimmages to prepare for their upcoming regular seasons. (Pictured: Madisonville and North Zulch head volleyball coaches Kristen Hooten and Melissa Padgett) PHOTOS BY CAMPBELL ATKINS

Peggy George (Daily) Shirley; 88 years, 8 months, and 9 days of Madisonville, TX (formerly of Hughes Springs, TX); passed away on Tuesday; July 27, 2021 in Madisonville, TX. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday; August 3, 2021 at The First Baptist Church in Madisonville, TX with Bro. Matt Carey and Bro. Mark Trichel officiating. There will be a visitation prior to the service beginning at 9 a.m. and graveside services are scheduled for 5 p.m. at Friendship Cemetery at 5419 FM 161, Hughes Springs, TX with Bro. Charles Russell officiating.

The suspect in custody as a result of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office’s active human smuggling case is Nixon Ariel Villabbos, who was booked into custody at the Madison County Jail on July 23 on an aggravated kidnapping charge.

Madisonville’s Faith Farris won the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Senior Youth World Championship at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth Friday. Farris previously won the National High School Rodeo Association World Championship in Girls’ Cutting after winning both go rounds and the average at the Nationals event in Lincoln, Neb. earlier in July along with her horse, Big Shoes to Phil, or simply Phil. Faith is the daughter of Mitch and Tracy Farris.

Madison County Sheriff Bobby Adams approved the hiring of four new employees to fill open positions, including two deputies, a dispatcher and jailer. “I could not be happier with the choices we made in our four new additions,” said Adams on the hires.

Faith Farris is the National High School Rodeo Association World Champion in Girls’ Cutting after winning both go rounds and the average at the Nationals event in Lincoln, Neb., which lasted July 18 through Saturday. Farris and her horse, Big Shoes to Phil, or simply Phil, became the Texas State Champion in the same category to qualify for Nationals back in June. Farris and her family are now in Fort Worth as she competes in the National Cutting Horse Association World Finals Wednesday through Friday. Faith is the daughter of Mitch and Tracy Farris. COURTESY PHOTO

The Madison County 4-H and Youth Development Program’s Livestock Judging team hosted their first summer workshop for Madison, Leon, Walker and Houston Counties’ students last week. The event, which lasted Tuesday through Thursday, was hosted by the Madison County 4-H Extension Office and led by 4-H Program Assistant, Eliza Nuncio.

The Madisonville Lady Mustangs softball team will have a new leader next spring. Coach James Croley takes over the reins for Coach Ashley Renner. Coach Croley took over the Lady Mustang position this past May and looks to bring his brand of “gorilla ball” to Madisonville.

Jeff Jefferson Jr. is following in his father’s footsteps and returning to his roots in Madisonville, his hometown, to take over the role of head women’s basketball coach for the storied Lady Mustangs program at MHS.