Grange. Among the honorees was Cuero native Dr. Mary Fanett Wheeler, recognized in the category of Steadfastness for a remarkable career that has shaped computational science, transformed domestic energy production, and continues to inspire students The League of Women Voters of South Central Texas (LWV) celebrated its fourth annual Women Making History event on Sunday, March 8, 2026 — International Women’s Day — at the Historic Casino Hall in La and researchers today.
Dr. Wheeler’s story begins right here in Cuero, where a third-grade teacher once suggested she be held back because she counted on her fingers to do math. She went on to become one of the most accomplished computational scientists in the world. Her work developing mathematical methods for modeling subsurface geological formations contributed directly to the revolution in domestic energy production — and her tools have since been applied across engineering, health care, finance, and beyond.
Dr. Wheeler was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1998 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2010. She has published more than 350 papers and mentored over 50 doctoral students across her faculty appointments at Rice, the University of Houston, and UT-Austin, where she held the Ernest and Virginia Cockrell Professorship. In 2023, the United States Association of Computing Professionals created the Mary F. Wheeler USACM Medal in her honor.
Dr. Wheeler’s profile was read by Matthew Balhoff, Department Chair and Professor in the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering at UT-Austin.
The 2026 Women Making History celebration honored six women selected from dozens of community nominations spanning Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales, and Lavaca Counties. Other honorees included: Heritage: Mary Bristow Willeford (Flatonia) — founding nurse of the Frontier Nursing Service and pioneer of nurse-midwifery education in the U.S. Courage: Connie Shortes (La Grange) — Braver Angels moderator bringing conservatives and progressives together across Fayette County Determination: Christi Opiela (Hallettsville) — builder of the award-winning Hallettsville Brahma News Network, the only scholastic journalism program in the five-county region Initiative: Alice Berry (Columbus) — founder of Senior Smiles and 20-year elder care advocate Vision: Tammy Collins (Flatonia) — driving force behind Flatonia’s downtown revitalization The afternoon also featured the League’s Third Annual Student Writing Showcase, in which four area high school students presented original essays and poetry honoring heroic women from Texas history with ties to South Central Texas.
This year’s winners included Yoakum native Mariel Arredondo (10th grade, Yoakum High School) — Essay on Clara Belle Drisdale Williams, Plum, who became the first African American graduate of what is now New Mexico State University. Arredondo’s recognition marks her second consecutive Showcase win; in 2025, she was honored for her profile of Jovita Idar, the pioneering South Texas journalist and civil rights activist.
Others were: Ellah Hill (12th grade, La Grange High School) — Essay on Annie Webb Blanton, La Grange, the first woman elected State Superintendent of Education in Texas. Audrey Green (10th grade, La Grange High School) — Essay on Mayor Jan Dockery, La Grange, the first African American mayor of La Grange. Vanessa Adams (12th grade, La Grange High School) — Poem on Mayor Jan Dockery, La Grange.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, volunteer-led organization inspired by a vision of democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. As a chapter of one of the oldest and most respected grassroots organizations in the United States, the South Central Texas League works toward this vision across Colorado, Fayette, DeWitt, Gonzales, and Lavaca Counties — strengthening our community’s tradition of voting, encouraging civic participation in all its forms, celebrating the contributions women have made and continue to make in our communities, and promoting the vital role of local news in a healthy democracy. As a nonpartisan organization, the League never supports or opposes candidates or political parties at any level of government. To learn more or to join, visit lwvsouthcentraltx. org. progress is being made in identifying individuals responsible for the problem and enforcing laws aimed at correcting the behavior. The widespread presence of cameras at businesses and residences has helped, he said.
Kuester said in one case after finding a load of refuse dumped along a road, he went to a business with a camera and was able to discover the responsible party. The video showed a truck going down the road loaded with the materials, then later coming back empty. He said the owner of the truck was located and issued a summons.
Kuester said the problem is both countywide and statewide. The illegal dumping has included construction materials, brush, sacks of garbage, old furniture, appliances, tires and other refuse, he said. Sometimes, people load garbage sacks and brush in the back of trailers and do not tie them down, letting it blow off on the side of the road, he added.
Kuester noted the penalties vary from a Class C Misdemeanor to State Jail Felony and in some enhanced cases a Third-Degree Felony. The amount and weight of the dumped materials determine the severity, especially if there is a repeat offense, and violators can also be assessed the cost of the cleanup.
Kuester said he is spearheading the county’s cleanup efforts with all officials’ cooperation because environmental quality is a priority he embraced upon taking office in January 2025.
In other action, the court:
• Approved the appointment of a committee to manage the redesign of the county website to bring it into American Disability Act compliance. A website is considered not ADA compliant if it lacks accessibility features that prevent people with disabilities from accessing its content. Common problems include missing alt text for images, non-functional keyboard navigation, low color contrast, and lack of video captions.
• Learned the Texas Commission on Jail Standards report found the county’s jail to be in compliance with no deficiencies.
• Proclaimed April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
• Approved property tax delinquency messages will not be available for sending by texts.
• Approved no through traffic truck signs on Old Gonzales and Ed Blackwell Roads will be symbols instead of words.
