Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, May 4, e-edition of the Taylor Press. The e-edition is mailed to subscribers and available at www.taylorpress.net.
MOLOCK RECEIVES HOME
Life has been a series of tests for Ashley Molock and her 3-year-old daughter, Persephone, but they now have somewhere to rest.
“This journey has taught me patience, confidence, kindness and most of all hope,” said Molock, “and I hope one day Persephone will be proud of me.”
On April 27, Atmos Energy and Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County unveiled the Molocks’ new natural gas-powered Zero Net Energy (ZNE) demonstration home with a dedication ceremony on Burkett Street in Taylor.
“Ms. Molock is the ideal candidate to receive this beautiful three-bedroom home,” said Debbie Hoffman, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County, Texas. “Since 2018, she has endured severe health conditions that continue to this day and require help from her family to care for her 3-year-old daughter. This ZNE home will provide Ms. Molock and her family both security and comfort as she manages her health issues.”
FIELDS JOINS SAINTS
On April 30, after the conclusion of the 2022 National Football League (NFL) Draft, former Texas Tech Red Raider and Taylor alum Damarcus Fields signed as an undrafted free agent with the league’s New Orleans Saints.
Fields joins the New Orleans Saints after a successful college career at Texas Tech University. He ranked second among Football Bowl Subdivision players at the end of the season for career passes defended, and his 45 passes defended marked the most for a Red Raider over his career dating back to 2000.
Fields was one of three Texas Tech players to receive invitations to the 2022 NFL combine in Indianapolis this past February.
TAYLOR PRESS WINS STPA AWARDS
On April 22, the Taylor Press won awards in the South Texas Press Association (STPA) 2022 Better Newspaper Contest. The honors were announced at the 96th Annual STPA Convention in Corpus Christi. The Taylor Press competed in Division 3 based on publication frequency and ciruculation.
The Taylor Press won first place in headlines and second place for page design, lifestyle pages and the Griff Singer General Excellence Award. The staff also won honorable mention for special sections.
Individual recognitions include sports editor Matt Hook’s second place award for sports photos. Publisher Jason Hennington shared second place in sports photos with Hooks. Hennington and senior reporter Fernando Castro received honorable mentions for feature writing.
VIRUS CASES REMAIN STEADY
Williamson County’s COVID-19 rate in April stayed between 300 and 400 new cases each week.
Confirmed cases, which include past and current episodes reported to the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD), increased by 312 in the county April 26-May 2. As of Monday, May 2, WCCHD confirmed a total of 112,078 COVID-19 cases in Williamson County during the pandemic.
The new case load was lower than the weekly average of 337 April 12-25 and recent peak of 394 cases April 5-11. Cases still dwindled from the weeks of Jan 11-24, which saw a seven-day average of 7,938 new cases.
WCCHD’s toll for deaths linked to the disease did not change last week. The number stands at 935 as of May 2.
