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45-year-old Hollis Willingham of Hearne was declared guilty last week for the 2007 murder and disappearance of Madison County man Jim Craig Martin, whose body was never found. “I am thankful that the Martin family finally gets some closure in this case,” said Madison County District Attorney Brian Risinger, who has worked this case along with a number of other entities over the years.

Countless locals flocked to the Madison County Fairgrounds Saturday for the City of Madisonville’s First Annual Mudbugs & Music Festival. The event included vendors, live music, a crawfish eating contest and lawnmower races. Gates opened at 11 a.m. and lasted until 8:30 p.m. (Pictured are Robert Bennett pouring crawfish into a cooler as well as crawfish eating contest champion David Mingus of Regional Home Sales proudly displaying his empty basket). CAMPBELL ATKINS

A number of individuals were elected to new positions for the 2022 edition of the Texas Mushroom Festival at the organization’s monthly meeting March 8. Those individuals included Lauren Walls (President), Casey Mallett (Vice President), Hilaria Garcia (Secretary), Caitlin Jugert (Treasurer) and Kristy Mills (Sponsorship and Scholarship Chairperson).

39-year-old Philip Carter, who broke his bond by removing his ankle monitor March 29, was located and taken into custody Friday, according to a Facebook post by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. “Tonight, with the team effort of Montgomery County Pct 2 Constable’s Office, the Texas Rangers and Dallas Police Department, (Carter) has been taken into custody,” read the early Saturday post.

The Madisonville baseball team split a pair of district matchups with a road loss at China Spring March 29 and a victory over Connally at MHS Friday. The Mustangs also defeated Fairfield in a non-district matchup Saturday before returning to league play at Mexia Tuesday. “We got two wins last

The Madisonville softball team defeated Mexia 18-6 to open district play 1-0 at MHS Friday. The Lady Mustangs looked to make it two straight in league play with another home matchup against La Vega Tuesday.