The Kenedy City Council began its meeting with discussion on the final plat for RDRP/Paul Covey Investment Group of four lots on the property formerly known as the Hemby tract located on the West side of Hwy 181 North.

Southwest Engineers examined the contractor plans of the plat and noted several recommendations: Water main needs to be an eight-inch main; sewer services recommend a sewer cap and access roads should go along with TxDOT recommendations. No action was needed as a time lapse for action had expired allowing the plat to be approved by default.

City Manager Reggie Winters brought several matters to the Council table.

Volunteers from Runge churches worked together Saturday to provide Thanksgiving meals to some of their Runge neighbors.

About 200 meals were prepared and were either served at the Runge VFW Hall or delivered to local homes during the third annual Runge Council of Churches Thanksgiving Dinner.

In the absence of County Judge Alger Kendall, Jr., Commissioner Darrell Blaschke presided over the regular Commissioners Court meeting on November 13.

A briefing on the grant progress for renovation of the Karnes County Courthouse was presented.

Architect Lewis Fisher told the commissioners that "a resolution from county officials is needed by Friday, November 16, to be taken to Austin to complete the application process." He said there are "ups and downs on the restoration" with the final review so far "showing 95 percent of the application approved" and the presentation will probably score "15 to 20 percent higher than before."

He said the "not so good" news involves talks with sub-contractors to help keep costs down on the renovation. The Brown Construction Company shows the current cost estimate as $8.3 million with $6 million the sum of the grant for which the county applied. The county’s share could be about $2.6 million, which is the estimated cost of the new county office building to be constructed as well.

Commissioner Isidro "Stormy" Rossett asked, "How are the chances of getting the grant money requested?"

City leaders argued about openness when a council member suggested the mayor had been hiding things during Runge’s regular Nov. 13 meeting.

Council member Tony Casillas told Mayor Homer Lott he felt there were items of city business the mayor wasn’t bringing to council early enough and also suggested some things weren’t brought to council members at all.

"There are things that are taking place that this commission doesn’t know about," he said, adding that by the time he and council member Irma Ortiz get information, it’s already old news.

Lott denied the allegation.

"As a mayor, I tell you everything," he said.

Runge High School student Morgan Swango was recently selected to be a student ambassador in a study travel program that may take her to Italy, France and England for a three-week study tour.

Swango was one of 40 chosen from a group of 150 applicants.

The victim of a recent attack in Runge drew this sketch of a crudely made tattoo she saw on the arm of her attacker. Anyone who knows someone who has a tattoo similar to this or sees someone with a similar tattoo is encouraged to immediately contact the Karnes County Sheriff’s Office at 780-3931.