AUSTIN—Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced today he will send cities, counties, transit systems, and special-purpose taxing districts $1.03 billion in local sales tax allocations for July, 15.3 percent more than in July 2021. These allocations are based on sales made in May by businesses that report tax monthly.

WHEW! We had a wildfire over the weekend on the southeast side of the village. Our local volunteer fire department sprang into action and had the blaze under control within a few hours. Like most unincorporated towns in Texas, the men who live here drop everything when they get the “fire” message on their phones. Sometimes, it’s in the middle of the night. The recent fire was fought on a 107-degree afternoon. Thank goodness there was no wind.

AUSTIN—Texas families have through July 31 to enroll their newborns at 2021-22 prices in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund®, the state’s prepaid college tuition program. Newborns are children younger than 1 year of age at the time of enrollment.

THE PHOTO KEY PAGE 2: The Honor Guard; Mirabelle Brown riding a firetruck; Lily Smith on the courthouse lawn; Tucker Landry with his own reserved seating on Sixth; Smiley Johnson Band musicians; Mutton-buster Axel Adcock; PAGE 3: Sweepstakes Winner Lady Cat “Aud” Balls; Comedy Award Winner “Cowboy Camp” by Ben Bussard; Flag-festooned dog; PAGE 4: The Smiley Johnson Community Band; Best Individual Entry Winner “Proud to Be an American” by Peterson Family and Friends; Cooling off at the Water Polo event; Adam and J.T. Kerrigan enjoying the free Watermelon Feed; PAGE 5: Best Commercial Entry, “Setting the Bar of the American Dream,” by Travis and Ashton Macias’ Bar M; Trick Riders Liza Cooper and Madison Schalla; Ben Riverman presenting Turtle Race winnings to Ella Spence; Antique Tractor Winner Guy Hufstedler on his 1953 Ford 800 Jubilee; JP Peery Ranch celebrating over 100 years; CRBC Turtle Wrangler John Julian eyeing the finish line.