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While the rollout of the vaccine has been a relief for the nation’s teachers, many of whom have been working in-person on and off since the start of the pandemic, the reality is that not everyone will get the vaccine. What’s more, being in the school building all day with children who are not yet approved for immunization leaves many educators and school staff vulnerable to COVID-19, no matter how many precautions they take while off the clock.

Being named a valedictorian or salutatorian is a significant achievement. Some students may not fully understand what these titles represent. Every school has its own qualifications, but in general, valedictorians and salutatorians are those individuals who have reached the very highest levels of academic success.

Music is a mood booster and can help promote mental health. This past year has been particularly challenging, inspiring many people to reap the many benefits of bringing more music into their homes. Here is how you can too:

Texas Republicans have long taken pride in the state’s reputation as a bastion for gun ownership — but time and again they’ve stopped short of passing a law allowing handguns to be carried without a permit.

“I would ask God for more space because my brother won’t leave me alone a lot of times,” says Jenny, 10.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been discovered in deer breeding facilities in both Hunt and Uvalde counties. This marks the first positive detection of the disease in Hunt County.

Nine Forney High School students recently qualified for the UIL Texas State Solo & Ensemble Competition which is usually held in June in Austin. This year’s competition will be a video submission to be adjudicated in late May.

As the City of Mesquite announced its new Clean City Initiative, Mayor Bruce Archer proclaimed, “This is a new day in Mesquite, Texas to raise the level of civic pride in our city when it comes to keeping our community clean, free of litter and looking beautiful.” The plan is focused on an array of enhanced efforts including more public education, regularly scheduled litter programs, stronger enforcement tools and new beautification projects. The city has provided www.cityofMesquite.com/CleanCity for the public to learn about the initiative and to get involved.

Enrollment in the Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP) is now open for the 2021-22 hunting season. Open enrollment for the MLDP Conservation Option runs from April 5 through June 15 this year while the Harvest Option opens May 1 and runs through Sept. 1. New this year, fees are being charged for each enrollment option. Enrollments and fee payments can all be made through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Land Manage ment Assistance online system. Payments can be made by credit card only.

From April, 1848, to August, 1850, the GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER of the county was the “official county seat.”

Christina Delaroche of Crandall, Texas, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Delaroche was initiated at Fordham University.

Around the middle of the 1st decade of the 2000s, I had gained about 20 pounds with the births of each of my 3 children and tipped Dr. Dirk Frater’s scale at a robust 235, or a little more, pounds. I consider my “playing weight” to be about 175 pounds on my (at that time) frame of 6’ 1½“. I was told my “numbers” were “way out of wack” and that I needed to lose down to 210 lbs. by the time I came back for my next physical in 4 months. The good doctor suggested I follow the “Dash Diet” of lower-in-saturatedfats foods. To make a long story reasonable, I did what was asked of me with the suggested diet and added my own addition of stopping the intake of all “sugar” soda pops and the eating of no more than two “regularsized” meals per day. And, I did more yard work!

“Here we go again,” say both the believers and doubters—just for differing reasons! A person, who