Walkers and runners from across Karnes County will go around the clock in the battle against cancer during the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. This "celebration of life" brings numerous groups and individuals concerned about cancer together for a unified effort to fight back.

The eighth annual Karnes County Relay For Life will field teams of enthusiastic super heroes from Kenedy, Karnes City, Runge and Falls City at the Karnes City High School Stadium for a 12-hour relay against cancer from 7 p.m. on Friday, May 4 until 7 a.m. Saturday, May 5.

Relay For Life is a unique fundraising event that allows participants from all walks of life — including patients, medical support staff, corporations, civic organizations, schools, churches and community volunteers — to join together to fight cancer. Relay For Life is a reminder that progress has been made in the fight against cancer and that everyone who participates is making a difference.

The Kenedy City Council voted unanimously to hire Reggie H. Winters as the new city manager for the City of Kenedy during a special meeting of the city council on April 30.

Winters will report to work on May 21. Salary was set at $50,000.

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials recently announced that Brannan Paving Co. Ltd. of Victoria, Texas, will be working in Karnes County paving roads.

The work will begin on May 2 and last for about 10 working days.

The contractor will pave:

FM 1020 - from Runge to end of maintenance FM 81 - from FM 2773 to the Goliad Co Line FM 885 - from Runge to end of maintenance FM 1354 - from SH 80 to end of maintenance US 181 D - from SH 123 to US 181 US 181 F - From SH 72 to US 181 (north of SH 72) US 181 G - from US 181 to SH 72 (south of SH 72) FM 1145 - from US 181 G to SH 72 FM 743 - From BU 72 to US 181 FM 882 - FM 626 to the Live Oak Co Line

On Saturday, May 5, between 8 and 9:30 a.m., more than a dozen area car clubs will depart from the San Antonio Botanical Gardens parking lot (555 Funston) on their journey along the historic Alamo-La Bahia Corridor for AACOG’s 18^th Annual Classic Car Cruise.

This year’s Classic Cruise is charted down back roads lined with south Texas wildflowers, and encompasses many of the charming historic communities of the Alamo La-Bahia Corridor. Attractions for the participating car clubs will include Panna Maria, which is known by some as the "Polish Plymouth Rock"; a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors in stained glass in a picturesque church in Cestohowa; catfish swimming lazily in a basement viewed through a window (a hole in the floor of a former hardware store in Karnes City); museums (the former courthouse for Karnes County in Helena, a former firehouse in La Vernia, and the Longhorn Museum in Pleasanton, which also serves as a visitor bureau); the authentic ghost town of Helena, which was the victim of an early rancher’s revenge; missions, battlegrounds, Cinco de Mayo Celebrations, brush country panoramas and ranchland. All these attractions are part of a virtual hotbed of Texas history, and all are on the schedule for members of the Alamo Area Council of Car Clubs participating in the cruise.

Early voting continues until Tuesday, May 8 for the county constitutional amendment election, Kenedy ISD, Runge ISD and City of Runge Elections.

The last day to mail out ballots is May 4.

Early voting for the county election is held at the courthouse.

Early voting for Kenedy ISD will take place at the Parental Involvement Office near the administrative office.

Early voting for Runge ISD will take place at the high school auditorium.

Early voting for the City of Runge will take place at Runge City Hall.

Austin- The Texas House of Representatives earlier this week debated and passed, along party lines, House Bill 218 by Representative Betty Brown (R). House Bill 218 has been characterized by many as a voter suppression bill that creates substantial obstacles inhibiting voter participation, disproportionately affecting the elderly, minorities and low-income voters. The bill prohibits voters from voting with only a valid voter registration card, as many currently do. The bill will now require additional identification be presented at the voting polls regardless of a voter registration card.