Flooding prompts disaster declaration

Heavy rains through Texas last week caused flooding, particularly in the Dallas area, prompting Gov. Greg Abbott to issue a disaster declaration for 23 affected counties.

Daily Check-In Services for Seniors Living Alone

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend any services that check in on elderly seniors who live alone? I live about 200 miles from my 82-year-old mother and worry about her falling or getting ill and not being able to call for help.

Dear Zac,

I share these words with all those who choose to read them, and I do hope they are received with the same caring sincerity with which they are imparted. Make no mistake, however, the words that follow have but one intended recipient: Zac Flores.

Membership in Real Life

My wife and I took a lovely vacation last week, centered around a friend’s wedding in Walla Walla, Washington. I had an essay lined up about being inspired by the local food economy in eastern Washington. But life can change with the blink of an eye, or in our case, the whiff of smoke.

Texas gas prices lowest in nation

Farmer’s Almanac predicting a white winter As Texas gets at least a temporary reprieve this week from the heat, with a nice round of rain blanketing much of the state, the Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting January will bring significant snowfall to the state.

What is an Annual Notice of Change?

Dear Savvy Senior, Last year I received a “notice of change” letter from my Medicare provider. Should I expect another one this year, and what should I do with it?

2 CentsWorth

Good morning to all of you, grab you a glass of tea and visit with me awhile. All of you Rotan Yellowhammers remember the classes of the 50's is meeting at Elegante Suites in Abilene, the 19th and 20th, so all of you that want to come and visit with all of us you are mighty welcome.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Millions of Texas children are heading back to school this month, as early as this week in some districts. The Texas Department of Transportation urges drivers to be especially alert and focused when driving in school zones and near bus stops.

The Farmer Sells at Retail

BY JAMES M. DECKER “[The farmer] is, after all, the only man in our economy who must buy everything he buys at retail—sell everything he sells at wholesale—and pay the freight both ways.” This is a famous (and mostly accurate) line about the difficulties of farm economies.

What are you going to do about it?

E ditorial There is an abundance of issues, situations, decisions, and debates transpiring across the DMC’s coverage area at present, and while I have developed an opinion on most of these, one that is at the top of the list — and the one that is most within your control as an individual citizen —...