News

After many problems with the current air conditioning unit, the Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department will finally feel some cool air in the station. During a short meeting Wednesday, Aug. 1, Fairfield council members officially approved a bid from Wortham A/C for $4,695 to replace the air conditioning unit for the FVFD Fire Station. “Last Saturday the unit went out completely,” FVFD Fire Chief Mike Foree said. “We had a fire and came back to a station house with no air conditioning.”

A horrific accident is the subject of a lawsuit against the Freestone County Fair Association, which headed to a hearing at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, in the 77th District Court of Judge Patrick Simmons. In this hearing a trial date will be set.

Vicki and Charles Allred, of Fairfield, are suing the association and rodeo company after Vicki sustained a life-threatening injury while barrel racing in June 2017. Because of this injury Vicki is now a tetraplegic, also known as quadriplegia, which is paralysis caused by illness or injury that results in the partial or total loss of use of all four limbs and torso.

Documents say Vicki now requires round-the-clock medical care, and is at high risk of complications.

LUFKIN – Who says grocery shopping isn’t fun? Just ask Antonia Slaughter. Slaughter won a free shopping spree at her Fairfield Brookshire Brothers. It’s all part of the grocer’s CELEBRATE Summer Rewards program. Brookshire Brothers is drawing a winner every two weeks to take part in a one-minute shopping spree. Slaughter joins customers from Trinity, Giddings, and Huntington who have gotten to fill up their grocery cart for ‘free’ thanks to their community grocer. On Thursday, Aug. 2, Slaughter had one minute, with music blasting across the store, to fill up her buggy. She opted for the high ticket items – like meat. Store Director Brian Ingram was cheering her on. “Everybody needs to sign up to Celebrate,” says Ingram.

The Fairfield Library officially wrapped up the Summer Reading Program “Libraries Rock” on Wednesday, Aug. 1, with an awards program celebrating reading for all – 469 children and accompanying adults – and special efforts by three exceptional young readers.  The Libraries Rock Program began with every participating child setting a goal for their own summer reading.  In turn, during the award ceremony each child who participated in the program received a certificate and every child who completed their individual reading goal got a second certificate. There were three categories based loosely on age and reading level: Family Reading Group for younger children not yet reading on their own; Independent Reader Group for children able to read by themselves; and Independent Reader Advanced for those whose reading ability allowed for longer books (think ‘chapter divisions’).

Wortham's own Luke Winters is slated to star in "First Man" opposite A-lister Ryan Gosling. Winters is pictured with Gosling while filming in Atlanta in the fall of 2017. Gosling stars as Neil Armstrong, while Winters plays his son, Rick, in the big-budget film. The movie is scheduled for release in October 2018. See the full story in the Aug. 16 edition of The Fairfield Recorder. 

Contributed photo

Princes and princesses alike enjoyed a program by Miss Texas Madison Fuller Friday at the Fairfield Library. The library held a second Story Time for Fuller to read Beverly Billingsly Takes a Bow by Alexander Stadler before performing a skit with her puppets.

Children also enjoyed making their own puppets and a photo op with Fuller. The homegrown queen performed her ventriloquist act with 5-year-old Leo the Lion and 3-year-old Frisco the Frog, singing “I’ve Been Everywhere” and “Great Balls of Fire.”

A 2-vehicle accident ended in the death of a 25-year-old Fairfield woman Thursday, Aug. 2, on U.S. 84 East near Teague. Accident reports show the victim, Natalie Harris, was traveling east when she rear-ended a tanker truck right outside the Teague city limits. According to reports, the 18-wheeler was stopped on U.S. 84 at approximately 1:20 p.m. waiting to make a left turn. Driver Clifford Jones, 71, reported his blinker was on while he waited to turn.

It’s back to school season for area students, but not retired school employees and they are hosting an evening out on the town to celebrate. Freestone County Retired Teachers Association (FCRTA) is inviting all retired school employees and a guest to a social/reunion at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, at Los Ranchos in Fairfield. FCTRA has reserved the meeting room; tea or water and light food will be provided. Guests are welcome to buy their favorite socializing beverage from the bar or stay and have dinner with friends. Invited are retired friends and colleagues from Fairfield, Teague, Dew, and Wortham ISD’s. Come and visit with those you spent so much time with back in the day. Renew friendships or meet new people.

Graduates from the Fairfield High School Classes of 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985 are invited to attend a reunion to reconnect with old friends and classmates, relive old memories (embellishments allowed), and rediscover your Eagle pride this fall at the Depot X in Fairfield.

Past Our Prime Prom is slated for 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15; tickets are $50 each and may be purchased on the FHS Past Our Prime Prom Facebook page or through Paypal at FHSPOPprom@gmail.com.  Tickets are available via advanced purchase only and will not be available at the door. Tickets are limited to the first 200 people

With back to school just around the corner, area businesses and churches are hosting various school supply drives to help ease the burden of school shopping.

Caney Baptist Church