Fairfield Texas

Several departments presented their budget proposals to Fairfield city councilmen Monday, Aug. 27, but no decisions will be made until closer to October. Leslie Tate, Freestone County Historical Museum board treasurer, presented their budget requesting $40,000 – the regular $15,000 operating costs plus an additional $25,000 for the 1880s Freestone County Jail project.

Tate said the board is hoping to continue with the project by removing any interior walls not original to the building, relocating the stairs to the original place, and stabilizing the floor.

Freestone County gave the museum $10,000 in operating costs, but chose to give none for the project.

This weekend will be a busy one in Fairfield with six events planned throughout town. The biggest event is the 21st Annual Show of Wheels and city-wide garage sale. Fairfield Chamber of Commerce is hosting the car show along with the City of Fairfield from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, on the courthouse square. Look for a garage sale map on Page 3 in the Sept. 6 edition of the Recorder.

A Swap Meet and Poker Run are also planned to kick off the weekend. Registration for the Poker Run is open from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at Bayless Napa Auto Parts at 357 W. Commerce in Fairfield. Cost is $10 per vehicle; car show participants are free.

City councilmen got a refresher course in Hotel/Motel tax usage from an attorney during the Monday, Aug. 27 meeting. Brian Sullivan, one of three attorneys for the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association, discussed rules and uses per state law regarding this revenue. “Every expenditure of hotel tax money must directly enhance and promote tourism,” said Sullivan. Sullivan explained there are eight different uses for the hotel tax money in Fairfield, including convention centers, advertising and promotion, and historical restoration. Although the state charges 6 percent tax, Fairfield also receives an additional 7 percent tax bringing the city’s total hotel tax revenue to 13 percent. In order to use that revenue, the city must spend it on events promoting tourism. Sullivan describes a tourist as anyone from outside the city or county. The different uses for the revenue are:

Calpine Corporation donated $2,000 to Freestone County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday, Aug. 29, which Sheriff Jeremy Shipley says the department will use to buy two Tasers. “We have a couple of officers trained,” said Shipley. “We’ll be for sure buying two for those individuals.” Shipley said he would like to have four to six because “it’s important to have another non-lethal option.” Pictured from left are Deputy Devin Mowry, Calpine Plant Manager Ty Pate, Calpine Business Manager John Taylor, and Sheriff Jeremy Shipley.

Photo by April Walker

September 2, 1943

Ira’s – “Alaska Highway” starring Richard Arlen and Jean Parker; The Constant Nymph starring Charles Boyer and Joan Fontaine; Assignment In Brittany starring Pierre Aumont and Susan Peters; Pilot No. 5 starring Franchot Tone and Marsha Hunt

Hill Cash Store Sale Sept. 4

Two local historic churches were mentioned in a newly published book by Houston residents William and Mary Pamela Schaefer. Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church of Kirvin and Harmony Church of Stewards Mill each got their own page in the book featuring 186 historic churches throughout Texas.

According to the synopsis, the Schaefer’s have visited and photographed approximately 1,000 historic churches in Texas over the past 10 years.

Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church

Bringing in the first place spot in last week’s Tuesday Night Bass Tournament was Bobby Driskell with a 5.51 pound largemouth bass. Driskell’s son, Easton, also was a winner this week, bringing in a 2.98 pound fish and taking fourth place. Easton is a first grader at Fairfield Elementary School. Gail Cates, of Mexia, took second place with a 4.08 pounder, while Mexia resident Lane Smith took third place with his 3.09 pound fish. Driskell pocketed $108 for his placing and Cates took $72. Only 12 anglers participated

Two Freestone County families have welcomed a new culture into their home by participating in the foreign exchange program through Youth For Understanding (YFU). Chad and Stephanie Wood, of Wortham, are hosting Germany native Freyja for the 2018-19 school year. Freyja will attend Teague High School. Charles and Kylie Neidich, of Fairfield, are hosting Hana from Japan and she will attend Fairfield High School. Exchange students experience tremendous personal growth during their program year. At the same time, the impressions made by the students themselves will broaden perspectives of host families and ultimately ripple through schools and across entire communities. YFU, one of the world’s oldest, largest, and most respected intercultural exchange programs, has been changing the way we see

Big T’s Buddies Autism Support Network, together with Golden Circle Special Needs Association, donated a total of $25,000 this year to schools in Freestone, Limestone, Navarro, Leon, and Anderson counties to support the education of children with special needs. Freestone Navarro Bi-County Coop members accepted the donation for their Life Skills Classes. Funds are raised at the annual Big T Memorial event, which will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7-8 in Fairfield. Schools receiving money include: Blooming Grove, Buffalo, Cayuga, Centerville, Coolidge, Corsicana, Dawson, Elkhart, Fairfield, Frankston, Frost, Groesbeck, Kerens, Leon, Mexia, Mildred, Neches, Normangee, Oakwood, Palestine, Rice, Slocum, Teague, Westwood, and Wortham.

The Fairfield Eagles took on the Teague Lions in the first scrimmage game of the season at home Friday, Aug. 17. The Eagles pounded the field 182 yards in 31 rushing plays. The passing game was not quite as obvious with 9 completed passes out of 16 attempts for 127 yards. The quarterbacks averaged a little over 18 yards with each pass with one 23-yard interception. The Eagles dominated the field with 309 total yards for the duration of the scrimmage.