Students pay attention in school. Voters pay attention to it… Hopefully

With a first glance at skimming the headlines in this week’s edition, it might appear as though it was a light news week. In many ways, this is true, yet much of the information shared this week is merely a transition between one event and another.

OIL, GOATS & BANJO

BJ Mayo of Miles worked in the oil patch 48 years. “I worked in seven states and spent some time overseas,” he says. “I was in Bangladesh then Australia and West Africa where I retired from a major company and started consulting from there.

Abbott has until June 22 to sign or veto bills

Texas legislators wrapped up the 89th session last week, passing more than 1,200 bills — 800 of which were sent to Gov. Greg Abbott in the last 10 days of the session, The Dallas Morning News reported.

VOICES OF VALOR

The Big Empty is a harsh land, Unfettered, the wind blows free. The mesquite and cotton fields, As far as the eye can see.The Brazos seldom runs full, And the small creeks are mostly dry.Coyotes and wild hogs seeking shade, As the tumbleweeds go rolling by.

A Big Beef Show in A Small Town

Andy Holloway has seen the ups and downs of the cattle business. He had a large enterprise in Abilene then came hard times. He called an old professor he had at A & M and explained his financial situation.

2 Cents Worth

To all of you yellow hammers, got some news for you we had rain, we had rain, rain, strong winds, just bad weather, but the Old Double Mountain River is rolling!!!!!!

Care to buy a vowel? B_L_NC_

Whether it’s between work and rest, good and bad, happy and sad, or a multitude of other formulations, it seems humans are perpetually obsessed with maintaining a semblance of balance.

Faces & Places

“It is not biology that determines fatherhood. It is love.” ~ Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale My appreciation for Father’s Day is about as good as my appreciation for Mother’s Day.

Texas Lawmakers Close Session with Culture Clashes, Tax Cuts, and New Bans

The dust hasn’t quite settled on the 2025 legislative session, but here’s a sampling of bills already sent to Gov. Greg Abbott.• A ban on clubs supporting gay teens in public schools won final legislative passage on Saturday. The measure sponsored by state Sen.

A Steam Train in the Piney Woods

Ben Campbell is a Palestine historian. His father and grandfather both worked for the railroad. “We lived fairly close to downtown,” he says. “The railroad came through here and I loved to hear the steam engines coming through.”Apparently those early memories had a big influence on him.