News

BASTROP – The Samsung Austin Semiconductor facility and its landmark $17 billion construction site in south Taylor continue to have ripple effects on the landscape of business development in the area.

Texas electricity struggles to keep up with its population explosion

Cracking down on illegal street waste

By Charlene H. Jordan

MCDADE – The Mc-Dade Watermelon Festival held its 75th annual Queens Revue this past week, naming the celebration’s three new representatives for the upcoming year.

BASTROP – Renée Beck has been named Director of Finance for Bastrop Independent School District. Most recently, she served as the purchasing director for the Klein Independent School District. Her new role will involve the supervision of accounting, procurement, auditing, compliance with state and federal requirements, and assisting with the district’s budget.

BASTROP – The Bastrop Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the 2023-24 budget at its June 20 regular meeting. The budget includes a 5% pay raise for teachers, librarians, nurses and paraprofessionals. Administrators and other professional staff will see a 3% increase. The approved compensation package also includes a starting salary for new teachers of $56,000 (up from $53,000). Bus driver pay will increase to $23 per hour, and substitute pay will see a boost to $105 for non-degreed, $115 for degreed, and $125 for certified.

Western Days

The yard of Albert and Sylvia Ramirez at 501 South Ave. has been selected for the Elgin Garden Club Yard of the Month award.

COLLEGE STATION – As hot and dry conditions persist, extremely dry vegetation will continue to support wildfire activity across much of the state, even as surface moisture increases in some areas.

BASTROP – Championship Hearts Foundation is coming to Bastrop High School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 15 to offer free heart screenings for all athletes, band members, spirit groups and students ages 14-18. People from the Bastrop County area are also encouraged to volunteer to help with the next heart screenings.

On Monday, June 26, in the Fellowship Hall of St. Peter’s Church of Coupland, the Coupland Civic Organization will experience a rare treat. Hollywood cameraman Cal Roberts, who has retired to Georgetown’s Sun City, will present information about his career to the CCO, and he will display material that he has collected over the years. Attendees will hear about the behind-the-scenes workings of filmmaking.