FAYETTE COUNTY — On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Semiquincentennial will be an exciting and commemorative year, filled with celebrations throughout the United States. The National celebrations will be under the umbrella of AMERICA250, with Texas following suit, TEXAS AMERICA250.
“We are proud that Fayette County, Texas, has established a Semiquincentennial Advisory Commission,” Fayette County Judge Dan Mueller said. “The purpose of this commission is to collaborate and promote local community, city, and county-wide celebrations in Fayette County throughout the momentous year 2026. Fayette County appreciates these dedicated civic and service- minded individuals who have joined the effort to coordinate and advise leaders on events that might be held during the Semiquincentennial year. “ “We are pleased to announce that our Fayette County Texas America250 Commission will be chaired by Larry Jackson, an outstanding and proven community leader,” said Mueller. Mueller will serve as advisor to the commission. Since coming to Fayette County in February 2007 to be editor and publisher of The Fayette County Record, Jackson has served as president of the La Grange Rotary Club, president of the Tejas Health Care board, president of the Fayette County Disaster Recovery Team after Hurricane Harvey devastated many homes here, a member of the LCRA Regional Ambassadors group, of the La Grange Chamber of Commerce board, of the Fayette County Tourism Council, and is currently a director of the Friends of the Katy Depot and the La Grange Senior Citizens Center among other activities.
An equally outstanding group of citizens has been appointed as members of the Fayette County Semiquincentennial Commission, representing a wide range of entities. These include:
Daughters of the American Revolution: Carolyn Calfisch, Sarah Mabry, Sally Reynolds and R.
Cathleen Tutt.
Veterans programs, flag ceremonies, veterans associations: Jesse Lednicky of La Grange and Bob Heinrich of Schulenburg.
Fayette County Historical Commission: Bobbie Nash.
Civic and community representatives: Kayla Kaspar and Sally Garrett, Texas AgriLife Extension Office; Daniel Lewis, Texas Forest Service, retired; and John Wied, Rotary Club.
City and County government representatives: Violet “Patsy” Zbranek, La Grange; Drew Brossmann, Schulenburg; Miranda Schlabach, Ellinger; Lisa Mayer, Carmine and Round Top; Karen Mahoney-Woods, Lions Club & Master Gardeners/Naturalists.
Advisory Commission office coordinator, Cassie Austin.
Advisory Commission secretary, Jamie Fabre.
Media Representatives: Jeff Wick, The Fayette County Record ; Melanie Berger, Flatonia Argus ; Darryl Vivyala, Schulenburg Sticker ; Sarah Prihoda, Weimar Mercury.
Assisting the commission will be Angela Hahn, Grants: Dawn Moore, Rural Addressing; James Herbrich, County and District Attorney; and Amber Hielscher and Kelly Blackwell, County Permitting and Regulations.
“Our Fayette County Advisory Commission members are individuals involved in historic, civic and service-oriented groups from across the area,” Mueller said. “They have creative ideas for school programs, youth group activities, community service projects and multiple events to remind citizens of the great country we live in and how to keep America great.”
