News

For several years, we have had “the snake” out here on our “2.2” on Old Military Trail. I had seen it quite a few times while I mowed and trimmed during the first few years of keeping up with yard work, but the 1st time someone else really noticed it was when daughterin-law, Holley, noticed it as she headed out to retrieve something from their vehicle in the driveway and came back into the house, yelling for Will and rather “excited.” She said there was no way she was going to go out there alone and “on foot!” So, “hero Will,” saved the day by carrying her on his back, and all was well. (Snake was maybe 2½ feet long, but you know how big they look if you are afraid!)

The City of Mesquite’s Public Works Department recently made a generous donation of peanut butter and jelly to Sharing Life Community Outreach as a part of the city’s Spread the Love campaign. Teresa Jackson, CEO of Sharing Life, said “The donations of peanut butter and jelly we receive are a critical source of nutritious food for our summer child hunger alleviation program. We are deeply grateful for the city helping us feed children in the community.” The city has donation bins located at its facilities and financial contributions can be made online at www.cityofmesquite.com/SpreadTheLove.

The past year has revealed many things, and among them is the extent to which we rely on science to solve problems that impact our everyday lives. Scientists everywhere are making science cool and are an inspiration to kids. Children represent the future and are tomorrow’s scientists, so it’s in all our interests that they develop a love of science.

Any time of year has the potential to be grilling season. Grilling is not only a way to prepare meals; for many, it’s also a passion.

Playing in or around water is one of the joys of summer, but this treasured seasonal pastime comes with some serious risks. Drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of 14 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) received a report in late June that an invasive silver carp had been spotted in Choctaw Creek, a Texas tributary of the Red River approximately 15 miles downstream from Lake Texoma. A bow angler, Stephen Banaszak, first reported the finding and two specimens were provided to TPWD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) who confirmed they were silver carp.

My wife and I have been subscribers of “E! Terrell” ever since being high bidders for a season pass at the Forney Chamber Auction a few years ago and were very disappointed when the productions came to a temporary halt as the result of the “pandemic.” However, we are thrilled that once again, things are back “up and running,” as of the music/comedy presentation by the “Atlantic City Boys” on July 15 at the Terrell ISD Jamie Fox Performing Arts Center on Poetry Road. This presentation was actually one of two “make-ups” for patrons who had paid for season tickets for the 2019-2020 season that was suspended with two shows remaining! All tickets were honored, and a full-house showed up “cheering and roaring to go.”

Governor Abbott issued a proclamation that identifies eleven agenda items for the Special Session. Special Session agenda items will include:

Steve Davis was one of the “older guys” in Forney High School when I attended in the mid-to-late 1960s; I knew who he was but not too much about him. He was one of the “Sunnyvale Crew,” who were fortunate enough to be part of Sunnyvale’s agreement with FISD to “educate their elementary/jr. high students after their graduations from grades 1-8.” I came to know him much better when we both served on the Kaufman County Historical Commission a few years ago and shared rides back-andforth to-and-from Forney to Kaufman. We both “gave up” our appointments after a term of service, but kept up our friendship as Steve sent material for Messenger articles about “Vintage Automobiles” and about the area of land around the Clements Ranch and bottom land near the Trinity River and Lake Ray Hubbard (at one time supposedly to be called “Forney Lake” or “Lake Forney.”) Steve is a “well-read and learned” man, an interesting conversationalist, a donor to the Spellman Museum, and an “expert” concerning many vehicles and “women” in general. He probably won’t admit it, though, but his wife is probably smarter than he is; she married him did she not? I have visited him at his house several times during the past years and think he is very worthy of having an article “penned about him,” as Shakespeare would say!

Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced a lawsuit against the Biden Administration as a part of the Texas Defense Task Force. Filed in the Southern Texas District Federal Court, McAllen Division, the lawsuit sues President Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas on grounds of illegally preventing the border wall from being constructed.

While the budget, pandemic and the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri dominated much of the 87th Texas Legislature, lawmakers made unmatched progress in education-to-workforce alignment issues that will have long-term benefits for students, employers and economy.

While I’ve always thought of the “dog days of Summer” representing the period of stagnation or inactivity due to the hot, sultry weather that typically occurs between July 3 and August 11 (2021), it actually goes back to Ancient Greece. It’s the part of the year that Sirius, nicknamed the Dog Star, has its annual rise over the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere. My own dogs have been showing that both definitions are accurate--but Forney ISD and the construction companies aren’t letting the heat slow them down. They are finishing three new schools--Griffin, Jackson, and Rhodes--that will be opening this fall!

If you’re in the early stages of your career, you’re probably not thinking much about retirement. Nonetheless, it’s never too soon to start preparing for it, as time may be your most valuable asset. So, you may want to consider retirement savings vehicles, one of which is an IRA. Depending on your income, you might have the choice between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA. Which is better for you?