Donald Wardell Named Role Model

The "Rising Stars" (23 Bastrop High School students selected by teachers for exemplary academic achievement, extracurricular activities and community service) named Donald Wardell, a biology teacher, as the educator who most influenced their success.

Pine Forest Subdivision Gets New Road

Pine Forest Property Owner's Association is paying for fuel and materials while Bastrop County is providing equipment and labor (and half the fuel) to improve four streets with asphalt.

Kruger Grabs Rookie of Year, Runner up Champ Awards in Legacys

BASTROP, Texas -- Jake Kruger enjoyed his first-ever season in the Lonestar Legacys in which he reaped the Rookie of the Year award as well as finishing runnerup to series champion Dillon Spreen.

WhoWon.com

New Orleans New Year Celebration in Lost Pines

The city of Bastrop, Texas, and the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa are going New Braunfels one better and staging their New Year's celebration a whole day early.

The New Orleans New Year Celebration is Dec. 30.

And the party starts at 9 a.m. with the year-end Downtown Market Days.

New Orleans soul singer Irma Thomas and Texas-born composer and jazz trumpeter Hannibal Lokumbe are the featured performers at an evening concert at the resort. Proceeds benefit the restoration and renovation of Kerr Community Center in Bastrop.

In addition, a New Orleans-style second-line parade begins downtown at 1 p.m. Music and festivities continue at Kerr Community Center Park until 4 o'clock. A dinner (reservations required) at the resort begins at 5:30, followed by the concert at 7:30.

Concert tickets: 1-866-443-8849; www.Gettix.net. Dinner, hotel reservations and packages (some include concert): 512-308-1234; www.visitlostpines.com. Bastrop is about 33 miles east of Austin.

Mercury News

State agency said to have mishandled foster camp investigation

Documents show a state agency ignored evidence and staff opinions before closing a boys camp in 2004 and accusing its director and two workers of neglect or sexual abuse.

News 8

State agency said to have mishandled foster camp investigation

Documents show a state agency ignored evidence and staff opinions before closing a boys camp in 2004 and accusing its director and two workers of neglect or sexual abuse.

News 8

Konstantino's

Billing itself as serving 'Thessalonika style Greek dishes and New York style Italian dishes,' Konstantino's is adding to the culinary diversity in Bastrop. Tasty Greek fare includes a sample platter of appetizers, souvlaki (grilled pork tenderloin) and traditional desserts such as baklava. A good Italian offering is the grilled eggplant Parmesan. Forks up. Moderate. 1412 W. Texas 71, Bastrop. 581-3232.

Austin 360