A Look Back as We Get Ready to Move Forward

 

This time next week, we will have a good start on the new year.

Here is a look back on a few of the biggest headlines of 2022.

1. “Tractor Supply Opens New Store in Fairfield”
Looking to add jobs and sales tax revenue to their hometown, the City of Fairfield welcomed Tractor Supply, completely occupying a building that formerly housed Lott’s Physical Therapy & Fitness Center and Fred’s Dollar Store.

2. “Texas State Champions”
Fairfield Lady Eagles Basketball team travels to UIL State finals for the third year in a row, beating Winnsboro in the final game 60-54.

3. “Hospital Celebrating Diamond Anniversary”
Freestone Medical Center celebrated 75 years of continual service with a hospital in Fairfield, Texas by honoring the original physicians who worked to keep medical care in their hometowns. The three buildings on the FMC campus were renamed as follows:
–L.L. Bonner, M.D. Hospital (on Newman Street),
–J.D. Crossno, M.D. Emergency Room (on the corner of Commerce & Newman Street), and
–J.H. Keller, M.D. Medical Building (on Commerce Street).

4. “Travel Center Open Now, Whataburger Opens Next Week”
Making several Texas travelers happy, Fairfield’s new TA Express opened on Interstate 45, featuring The Deli at TA Express, The Original Fried Pie Shop, and Whataburger!

5. “Honoring 100th Year for Freestone County Fair & Rodeo”
It was big doings this year during Fair Week, as the County Fair board went all out in planning a 100 Year Anniversary Celebration. There were proclamations signed at both the local and state levels, silver and gold-plated commemorative Belt Buckles, and a History Book with 650 pages of newspaper articles and photographs depicting County Fair celebrations in year’s past. At least 75 beauties, from babies to young ladies, competed in the Miss Freestone pageant, making one of the biggest in recent memory. And, this year’s Grand Champion Steer went for a jaw-dropping $20,000 at the Livestock Show Sale. This year’s event will be hard to top, but County Fair Association members have vowed to make the attempt.

6. “Funding Approved for Project Go”
After closing City Hall in 2019, and then making several attempts to raise funds for a new one, the City of Fairfield finally closed on the purchase of the former Wells Fargo Bank building in order to renovate and equip the facility to house the Police Department, Municipal Court, and City Hall under one, city-owned building. The $1.735 million project replaces a debt that was retired this year, as requested by Council members, who approved the project with a unanimous vote.

7. “Fairfield Ag Teacher Inducted into State Hall of Fame”
Retired Fairfield High School Ag Teacher, Don Beene, was presented a plaque by former student Wendy (Chavers) Neyland, who nominated him to be inducted into the 2022 Texas Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas.

8. “You Are Invited to Tour a Freestone County Treasure”
The official opening of the 1908 Littlejohn House authentic reproduction was held on the grounds of the Freestone County Historical Museum. A dream of architect Dick Clark of Austin, who first saw the house in Shanks Community in 1995. Campbell Custom Homes of Bullard finished the house in 2020 under the supervision of Kevin Hester and James Stanley. Kitchen floors, walls, doors, and cabinets were crafted of century-old longleaf pine, cypress, and oak carefully removed from the original house before the dilapidated building came down.

9. “Celebrating 100th Birthday, Seventy Years in Business & Service to Community”
October 22nd will forever be known of ‘Leon Schrader’ Day in the City of Teague, as proclaimed by Mayor David Huffman. The centenarian was celebrated by community leaders, business owners, friends and family.

10. “Plans for Teague Business Park”
Teague EDC announces the opening of a 30-Acre tract on Highway 84, making the Teague Business Park a reality. Within another month, they announce their first new tenant: Brookshire Brothers.

These are just a few of the stories that made the paper in 2022.

We can’t wait to see what is in store for the future.

Happy New Year, everybody!