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SCHOLAR ATHLETES

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Retiring girls’ athletic coordinator and head Lady Bulldog basketball coach, Stephen Heers, presented the UIL Scholar Award to Hamilton High School’s top five academic performing senior athletes Monday night during the HHS sports’ banquet. Recipients of the award included (l-r) Faith Lane, Kyndall Ingram, Reagan Wagner, Elaine Polster and Brenden Tomlinson.

BIG JOHN HONOR

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In a touching and emotional tribute, senior Blake Pettit became the first ever recipient of the “Big John” Hall Bulldog Pride Award at Monday evening’s Hamilton High School athletic banquet. Pettit (middle) is pictured (l-r) with coach Sonny DeLaGarza, John’s mother Roseann Hall, nephew Nathan Hall, sister-in-law Chelsi Hall and head Bulldog football coach and HHS athletic direc-tor Casey Jones.

Council swears in new members

Hamilton City Council made short work of the agenda Thursday before swearing in three new council members at City Hall.

The council canvassed the votes from the May 4 election, approved the consent agenda and heard the annual financial audit report from Jeremy Shell of Boucher Morgan Young.

Shell said more than 100 man-hours were put into the audit to cover each fund and the financials as a whole and gave an unqualified opinion, which is the highest level of assurance BMY can give as an accounting firm.

Gustine homecoming May 25

Gustine is the place to be Saturday, May 25, for the annual homecoming celebration that will include a photography and art showcase, cornhole tournament, dominoes, sweet treats and good music.

If you paint or take photographs, showcase your craft at the annual Photography and Art Show at City Hall.

The showcase has adult and youth divisions and categories including people, picture story, animals, scenic and still life.

Art awards will be given in novice, advanced and professional categories and include oil/acrylic, watercolor, pastel, drawing and other media.

Small-town boy sees world through Air Force career

Dennis “Mike” Looney, 73, is a small-town boy, born and raised in Hamilton. He met his future wide in the first grade and graduated from Hamilton High School with students he’s known for years. What did he know of the larger world?

Maybe not much to begin with, but it wouldn’t take long before Looney got plenty of experience in the U.S. Air Force.

Looney decided to join the Air Force because he knew he was about to be drafted into the Army.

“I did not want to go to Vietnam, and I knew that’s where they would send me,” he said.

Mrs. Hamilton County competes for Mrs. Texas

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Mrs. Hamilton County Nancy Henkes didn’t bring home the Mrs. Texas crown, but she’s not too upset about it.

The Hamilton Junior High teacher said she had mixed emotions about the pageant experience.

On the one hand, she said, “I met a lot of strong women,” but on the other, “it was intense. I got so nervous about doing everything right that I lost myself.

“By the second night, I was more comfortable and thought, ‘I’ve got this,’ but I didn’t make the finals.”

A typical person watching the pageant only sees what goes on at the surface, she said.

TRAINING

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The Hamilton Historical Commission and Hamilton Economic Development Corporation received training on documenting historic resources, particularly historic buildings. The Texas Historical Commission provided the training. In the next weeks, you will notice our folks on the courthouse square in Hamilton, scribbling and taking pictures. This documentation aids us in applying for grants for historic preservation, and is a fundamental part of the application for the Main Street program.

STAAR tests this week, summer next

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Moving on up!

It’s that time of year again, when end-of-school activities take up every waking moment, you squeeze in some STAAR tests and field trips, and before you know it, graduation zooms by and summer begins.

Ann Whitney Elementary School’s 44 kindergarten students promoted to first grade in ceremonies Friday in the school cafeteria.

Hamilton Junior High eighth graders will promote to high school Friday at 6 p.m. in the Chandler Craig Auditorium, and the Hamilton High School seniors will graduate at 8 p.m.

Meal program starts Monday

Hamilton’s free summer feeding program starts Monday in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church. Children of all ages and the adults who bring them are invited to enjoy free lunches every week day of the summer. Serving time is 11:15 a.m.

County OKs annex for Memorial Day

Hamilton County Commissioners Court will move its meeting place to the courthouse annex effective next Tuesday.

The court approved a building use request for American Legion Post No. 22 for a Memorial Day service from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the courthouse annex parking lot.

Post representative Robert Jackson said the ceremony will be held rain or shine, and the guest speaker will be retired US Air Force veteran Ira Kirby.