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Pets and Pet Therapy

Andrew B. Crocker, Extension Program Specialist - Gerontology Health
Submitted by Debbie Hailey, CEA-FCS

Sometimes a kid's best friend is his dog – the same may hold true for older adults. In today’s busy and unsettled world, the friendly wag of a dog’s tail or the purr of a cat may be a welcomed change. Pets can provide unconditional love, support and companionship, especially to older adults who live alone, either in their own home or in a residential facility.

Animals can encourage communication – even if it is a one-way conversation. They love for us to talk to them or show them affection and seem to respond to our needs and moods, almost as if they understand. Pets touch a person's inner self in ways that science does not yet understand. They need their owners to feed them, give them exercise and lots of affection, providing a purpose in our everyday lives. Pets may provide many other services including mental and physical exercise, protection, additional eyes and ears and a set of teeth to pick items up. There are even stories of a pet altering his or her owner to a fire or other emergency, saving the owner’s life.

Walking a dog is a great form of exercise, stroking a cat may reduce anxiety and having any sort of pet focuses you on something other than your own troubles. Some research suggests that pet ownership may do more than merely cheer you up; it has been associated with a reduced risk of clinical depression, estimated to affect over 6 million older adults annually. Studies have also found that pet owners were more physically active than those without pets. Pet owners were also better able to attend to their own activities of daily living, such as walking and bathing, among others, than those with no animals.

Loss of a beloved pet is difficult under any circumstances, but it can be particularly so for older adults, whose most consistent experience at this particular stage of life is loss. By now they have lost parents, spouses, siblings, children or close friends; their physical strength, stamina and mobility have lessened; with retirement, their identity with a prior occupation is lost, along with the usual routine and the opportunity for socialization in the workplace. Feeling deprived of so much, it is not surprising that older adults may develop meaningful relationships with – and become so attached to – animals. Such attachments are significant and enduring and meet a whole range of physical and emotional needs.

Pets do not always have wagging tails and fur; they may be something like fish in an aquarium or a canary. Research in this area shows that when an aquarium is full of fish, older adults may name the fish and seem to concentrate on one or two fish specifically. The presence of an aquarium, especially in a residential facility, may be soothing and offer a connection to the outside world in addition to serving as a catalyst for social relationships among fellow residents. Birds may provide the same type of social relationships when a group gathers around the bird cage. Birdsong has been shown to bring back positive memories about childhood and outside activities to many individuals.

Building on the relationship between humans and their pets, pet therapy is a burgeoning activity being practiced in hospitals, residential facilities and other establishments throughout the United States. Pet therapy uses a dog, cat or other animal as an integral part of medical treatment provided under a healthcare professional's supervision. Many health professionals assert that pet therapy animals provide educational, physical, cognitive and psychological benefits to patients of any age. Often, patients experience improved range of motion, an increased ability to focus and greater self-confidence.

When evaluating the effectiveness of pet therapy, the animals themselves need to be considered. It is important to realize that not all animals make good therapy pets. Pet therapy has an impact on the animals, too, and not all older adults like animals. For instance, if someone brought their beloved pet snake in to a facility for therapy, it might not be very well-received.

Standards for what is required from a pet therapy animal vary from facility to facility. Check with facilities in your area, such as the local hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility to see if they have an active pet therapy program. Someone with the facility should be able to tell you what is required and provide you an opportunity to volunteer. If you are looking to start a pet therapy program and are seeking individuals who may be interested, contact your local chapter of the Humane Society.

It is important to note that these studies are not randomized clinical trials and so their results bear closer scrutiny and need to be replicated more rigorously. Over the past 60 years, clinical research on pet therapy has been inconclusive. Some researchers found no correlation between an animal's presence and improvement in the well-being of older adults. Others determined that animals could help lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and relieve depression merely by being in the room. Further research may provide clearer understanding if and when pet ownership and pet therapy may be a helpful part of physical, mental and emotional therapy or just a friendly face to have around the house.

For more information, contact your County Extension Agent, Debbie Hailey, at 325-625-4519. You may also access additional information from the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University:
http://www.vet.purdue.edu/chab/.

Gov. Perry Swears In Rodriguez as Lieutenant General in the Texas National Guard

Feb. 15, 2007

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today administered the oath of office to Charles Gary Rodriguez as lieutenant general in the Texas National Guard. Lt. Gen. Rodriguez serves as the State of Texas Adjutant General and is stationed at Camp Mabry in Austin. As adjutant general, Rodriguez is responsible for command of more than 21,000 soldiers, airmen and civilians of the Texas military forces, which include the Texas Army and Air National Guard, the State Guard and the Adjutant General’s Department.

In September, Gov. Perry announced the promotion of Major General Rodriguez to the rank of lieutenant general in the Texas National Guard. Today, Perry pinned a third star on Rodriguez, officially promoting him to lieutenant general. Very few Texas National Guardsmen earn this honor.

Rodriguez previously served on the development advisory board of the Texas A&M University College of Education as former co-chair of the education council in the San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce School Boards Committee. Additionally, he served eight years as a board member of Texas STARBASE, a youth development non-profit organization in Houston, and three years as president of the Graduate Alumni Association of the Union Institute.

A 1975 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Rodriguez received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering with a humanities concentration. He also received a Master of Arts degree in marketing research from Wheaton College Graduate School in Illinois, a master’s degree in marketing from Keller Graduate School of Management in Illinois, and a doctorate in philanthropic leadership from the Union Institute and University in Ohio.

Rodriguez received numerous military awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Award (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Overseas Service Ribbon, the TX Lone Star Distinguished Service Award, the TX Medal of Merit, the TX Faithful Service Medal, and the Air Assault Badge.

Rodriguez has more than 31 years of commissioned service and served as the Texas Assistant Adjutant General for Homeland Defense in the Texas Joint Force Headquarters, stationed in Austin. He is married to Cappy Rodriguez, a 20-year commissioned officer veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve. Their two adult children are married and reside in San Antonio. Rodriguez is the son of the late Army Col. Joseph Rodriguez. His father received the Congressional Medal of Honor for service with valor during the Korean War. His mother lives in El Paso.

Weed Control in Winter Will Help Lawns in Spring

Feb. 14, 2007

DALLAS - Though still winter, now is the time to begin preparing lawns for spring, a Texas Cooperative Extension expert said.

Pre-emergent herbicides should be applied to lawns before weed seeds begin to germinate, said Dr. James McAfee, Extension turfgrass specialist in Dallas.

"For it to be effective you need to get that material down soon, before weeds start coming up in mid-March and mid-April," McAfee said.

Pre-emergent weed control can be purchased at nurseries or garden centers inside large hardware stores, he said. Don't confuse the material with post-emergent weed killer, which shouldn't be applied this early in the year.

"Pre-emergent is designed to kill the young plant," he said.

Brands sold in Texas kill weeds common in most lawns, McAfee said.

"Crabgrass is the big one," he said. "That's the one most people think about."

A number of brands contain a variety of chemicals, he said. But before buying any, determine which brand works best with the type of grass in your yard.

Read the labels carefully, McAfee said. Some brands can damage certain species of grass.

Calculate the lawn's square footage to help determine how much herbicide you need.

Lawns can be measured easily by walking their perimeters, length by width, taking roughly 3-foot strides, McAfee said.

"Most people don't have a clue what their lawn's square footage is," he said.

Once the herbicide is applied, water the lawn immediately or at least within a day or two, he said, because the pre-emergent material needs to soak in. If left on the surface too long, the herbicide can break down in sunlight and lose some potency.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, apply the material between mid-February and mid-March, McAfee said. In regions to farther north, such as the state's Panhandle, begin about mid-April.

In Central Texas, apply by early March at the latest. Farther south, where the spring season warms up the earliest, apply immediately.

"Soil temperature affects seed germination," McAfee said. "But even if you miss that first flush of weeds, they germinate through late August so it would be good to have the material down."

Pre-emergent herbicides aren't helpful to all lawns, McAfee warned. They can harm St. Augustine and centipede grasses, especially after cold winters.

"They don't have cold tolerance," he said. "After a lot of winters they'll come back weaker and they'll struggle. Pre-emergent can make it worse."

He advised against applying the material to shaded St. Augustine, because their root systems are shallow.

SHUTTLE ATLANTIS MOVES TO PAD, CREW READY FOR COUNTDOWN TEST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The space shuttle Atlantis arrived at its launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 3:09 p.m. EST on top of the giant vehicle known as the crawler transporter. The next milestone for the upcoming mission, STS-117, is a full launch dress rehearsal as the six-member crew prepares to continue building the International Space Station.

The crawler transporter began carrying Atlantis out of Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building at 8:19 a.m. It traveled just under 1 mph during the 3.4 mile journey.

While at the pad, the shuttle will undergo final testing, payload installation and a "hot fire" test of auxiliary power units. When testing is completed, the rotating service structure will be moved around the vehicle for protection.

Atlantis' targeted launch date is March 15. During the 11-day mission, the crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. The launch marks the first liftoff from Pad 39A in four years.

The astronauts and ground crews for the mission will participate in a launch dress rehearsal, known as the terminal countdown demonstration test, Feb. 21 to 23 at Kennedy. The test provides the crew of each shuttle mission with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency egress training.

The crew includes Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and mission specialists Jim Reilly, Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson and John "Danny" Olivas.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For information about the STS-117 mission and crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

All Is Not Lost: Non-Bt Cotton Varieties Offer Promise for Banned Area

Feb. 14, 2007

AMARILLO – Some existing cotton varieties offer northern Panhandle growers production equal to the restricted insect-resistance enhanced varieties, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

Producers are concerned because of a recent notice by Monsanto. The company called attention to the violation of Environmental Protection Agency rules when Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton was planted in 10 northern Texas Panhandle counties last year.

While no Bt cotton may be planted at this time and a working group has been set up try to get producers access to this technology, there are still many good choices for producers this year, said Dr. Carl Patrick, Extension entomologist in Amarillo.

Patrick said the situation developed because 10 years ago when the Bt technology was accepted, the 10 counties – Dallam, Sherman, Hansford, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Hartley, Moore, Hutchinson, Roberts and Carson – were a predominantly corn-growing region.

Because Bt corn is an alternate host for several cotton pests, he said, EPA established insect-resistance management rules requiring certain size refuges for both crops. This management technique would prevent insects from becoming overexposed – and resistant – to the new technology.

In Texas, which is primarily a cotton-producing state, a corn producer is allowed to only plant 50 percent Bt corn, with the remainder of the acres planted in non-Bt corn to serve as a refuge, Patrick said.

In the 10 counties, an exception to the 50/50 ratio allows corn producers to plant a ratio of 80 percent Bt corn and 20 percent non-Bt corn, because cotton was not grown there at the time, he said. The exception was granted with the stipulation no Bt cotton would be planted in the 10 counties.

Since then cotton has moved north, and the situation has changed, Patrick said.

"We can't shift that 50/50 thinking back up into the Panhandle, because corn producers want to keep the 80/20 ratio, and many of them are also cotton producers," he said. "If they cut back to 50/50, there would be a lot more insecticides and miticides sprayed."

A group has been formed to approach EPA for a change, but first a number of things must be considered, Patrick said. Information on refuge requirements needs to be updated, including how other natural refuges, such as sorghum and other crops, play a role.

However, until EPA can modify the rules, no Bt cotton can be planted, he said.

Monsanto representatives said when they looked at seed sales in 2006, they became aware that growers had planted Bt cotton in the restricted counties.

On the no-plant list are Bollgard, Bollgard II and WideStrike, said Scott Baucum, a Monsanto representative from St. Louis, Mo., who met with both cotton and corn producers. Of the 125,000 acres of cotton in the 10 counties last year, about 56,000 acres were planted to a Bt variety.

However, Patrick said, those acres were planted to those varieties not necessarily for the Bt technology, but for other technology stacked with it.

"We've got this working group pulled together to get things changed in the future, but this year you can't plant Bt cotton," he said.

The good news, Patrick said, is in the short history of cotton growing in this region, bollworms – the major pest Bt controls – have not caused major problems.

"Bt is outstanding technology, and we'd certainly like for producers to have access to it," he said. "But we do have non-Bt varieties that have performed well both in commercial fields and in the research-replicated tests."

Information on these varieties will be provided to all Extension agriculture agents in the 10 counties, as well as the area gins, Patrick said.

In addition, the local Extension Agri-Partner and integrated pest management programs will increase the trapping level for bollworms in those counties, he said.

"We can keep a tab on what the bollworm moth is doing," Patrick said. "When we see major flights taking place, we can alert the producers to intensify field scouting for bollworm development."

Producers need to manage their cotton for earliness, he said. The more mature cotton is, the less potential for bollworm damage.

An important aspect is the management of early season pests like thrips, cotton fleahoppers and Lygus bugs through routine scouting, use of economic thresholds and proper insecticide selection, Patrick said.

If an insecticide is required to control early season pests, producers should avoid using a pyrethroid-type insecticide, using an organophosphate type instead, he said

"If you do get into a bollworm problem, we do have economic thresholds to determine when to treat and effective insecticides to use when needed," Patrick said..

NASA MARS ORBITER SEES EFFECTS OF ANCIENT UNDERGROUND FLUIDS

SAN FRANCISCO - Liquid or gas flowed through cracks penetrating underground rock on Mars, according to a report based on some of the first observations by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. These fluids may have produced conditions to support possible habitats for microbial life.

These ancient patterns were revealed when the most powerful telescopic camera ever sent to Mars began examining the planet last year. The camera showed features as small as approximately 3 feet across. Mineralization took place deep underground, along faults and fractures. These mineral deposits became visible after overlying layers eroded throughout millions of years.

Chris Okubo, a geologist at the University of Arizona, Tucson, discovered the patterns in an image of exposed layers in a Martian canyon named Candor Chasma. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera aboard the orbiter took the image in September 2006.

"What caught my eye was the bleaching or lack of dark material along the fracture. That is a sign of mineral alteration by fluids that moved through those joints," said Okubo. "It reminded me of something I had seen during field studies in Utah, that is light-tone zones, or 'haloes,' on either side of cracks through darker sandstone."

"This result shows how orbital observations can identify features of particular interest for future exploration on the surface or in the subsurface or from sample return. The alteration along fractures, concentrated by the underground fluids, marks locations where we can expect to find key information about chemical and perhaps biologic processes in a subsurface environment that may have been habitable," said Alfred McEwen, principal investigator for the camera at the University of Arizona, Tucson.

The haloes visible along fractures seen in the Candor Chasma image appear to be raised slightly relative to surrounding, darker rock. This is evidence that the circulating fluids hardened the lining of the fractures, as well as bleaching it. The harder material would not erode as quickly as softer material farther from the fractures.

"The most likely origin for these features is that minerals that were dissolved in water came out of solution and became part of the rock material lining the fractures. Another possibility is that the circulating fluid was a gas, which may or may not have included water vapor in its composition," Okubo said.

Similar haloes adjacent to fractures show up in images that the high-resolution camera took of other places on Mars after the initial Candor Chasma image. "We are excited to be seeing geological features too small to have been noticed previously," Okubo said.

"This publication is just the first of many, many to come. The analysis is based on test observations taken even before the start of our main science phase. Since then, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has returned several terabits of science data, sustaining a pace greater than any other deep space mission. This flood of data will require years of study to exploit their full value, forever increasing our understanding of Mars and its history of climate change," said Richard Zurek, project scientist for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Okubo and McEwen report these findings in the Feb. 16 edition of the journal Science. Images showing the haloes along fractures are available on the Web at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/news/20070215.html

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the orbiter mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The University of Arizona operates the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera. Ball Aerospace and Technology Corp., Boulder, Colo built the camera.

Santa Anna Valentine Coronation Winners

Little Mr. & Miss Valentine--Sudie Puckett & Coy Taylor
Prince & Princess Valentine-Kynedi Bradley & Jacob Gibson
King & Queen Valentine-Kourtney Guerrero & Zachery Diaz

JOINT NASA STUDY REVEALS LEAKS IN ANTARCTIC 'PLUMBING SYSTEM'

WASHINGTON - Scientists using NASA satellites have discovered an extensive network of waterways beneath a fast-moving Antarctic ice stream that provide clues as to how "leaks" in the system impact sea level and the world's largest ice sheet. Antarctica holds about 90 percent of the world's ice and 70 percent of the world's reservoir of fresh water.

With data from NASA satellites, a team of scientists led by research geophysicist Helen Fricker of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif., detected for the first time the subtle rise and fall of the surface of fast-moving ice streams as the lakes and channels nearly a half-mile of solid ice below filled and emptied. Results were presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in San Francisco. The study will be published in the Feb. 16 issue of Science magazine.

"This exciting discovery of large lakes exchanging water under the ice sheet surface has radically altered our view of what is happening at the base of the ice sheet and how ice moves in that environment," said co-author Robert Bindschadler, chief scientist of the Laboratory for Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

"NASA's state-of-the-art satellite instruments are so sensitive we are able to capture an unprecedented three-dimensional look at the system beneath the thick ice sheet and measure from space changes of a mere 3 feet in its surface elevation. That is like seeing an elevation change in the thickness of a paperback book from an airplane flying at 35,000 feet."

The surface of the ice sheet appears stable to the naked eye, but because the base of an ice stream is warmer, water melts from the basal ice to flow, filling the system's "pipes" and lubricating flow of the overlying ice. This web of waterways acts as a vehicle for water to move and change its influence on the ice movement. Moving back and forth through the system's "pipes" from one lake to another, the water stimulates the speed of the ice stream's flow a few feet per day, contributing to conditions that cause the ice sheet to either grow or decay. Movement in this system can influence sea level and ice melt worldwide.

"There's an urgency to learning more about ice sheets when you note that sea level rises and falls in direct response to changes in that ice," Fricker said. "With this in mind, NASA's ICESat, Aqua and other satellites are providing a vital public service."

In recent years, scientists have discovered more than 145 subglacial lakes, a smaller number of which composes this "plumbing system" in the Antarctic. Bindschadler and Fricker; Ted Scambos of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colo.; and Laurence Padman of Earth and Space Research in Corvallis, Ore.; observed water discharging from these under-ice lakes into the ocean in coastal areas. Their research has delivered new insight into how much and how frequently these waterways "leak" water and how many connect to the ocean.

The study included observations of a subglacial lake the size of Lake Ontario buried under an active area of west Antarctica that feeds into the Ross Ice Shelf. The research team combined images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite and data from the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) on NASA's Ice Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) to unveil a multi-dimensional view of changes in the elevation of the icy surface above the lake and surrounding areas during a three-year period. Those changes suggest the lake drained and that its water relocated elsewhere.

MODIS continuously takes measurements of broad-sweeping surface areas at three levels of detail, revealing the outline of under-ice lakes. ICESat's GLAS instrument uses laser altimetry technology to measure even the smallest of elevation changes in the landscape of an ice sheet. Together, data from both have been used to create a multi-year series of calibrated surface reflectance images, resulting in a new technique called satellite image differencing that emphasizes where surface slopes have changed.

For more information online about NASA and agency programs, visit:
www.nasa.gov

Gov. Perry Launches 4th Annual Texas Round-Up

Feb. 14, 2007

Annual event to be held April 28th in Austin

AUSTIN – Governor Rick Perry today kicked-off the 4th annual Texas Round-Up, a fitness challenge encouraging Texans to make exercise and healthy lifestyle choices part of their daily routine.

“The Texas Round-Up is a great way to motivate friends and family, and even ourselves, to get active and make healthier choices in our daily lives,” Perry said. “With the entire state of Texas as a running buddy, we can all reach our fitness goals.”

Since 2004, more than 54,000 Texans have participated in the Texas Round-Up. The program’s website offers an online training program for individuals to track their exercise progress, as well as access training tips and advice. Since last fall, individuals from around the state have competed in the “Fit Texan” contest, challenging themselves to change their unhealthy lifestyles and get in shape. The winner of the challenge will be announced at the final Texas Round-Up celebration in Austin.

This year, eighteen Round-Up affiliate cities are leading efforts to make the State of Texas the fittest in the nation. These cities are Bay City, Bevil Oaks, Dish, Dumas, El Paso, Euless, Georgetown, Grand Prairie, Houston, Northlake, Onalaska, Palestine, Pilot Point, Port Aransas, Roanoke, Slaton, Sugar Land and Temple. Several cities will hold fitness events in their local communities.

On Saturday, April 28, the Texas Round-Up celebration will finish with a fitness festival at the State Capitol. The festival encourages children and families to make fitness and nutrition a priority in their lives. Festivities include 5 and 10K competitive races, the family one-mile race, and a health and fitness expo. Each participant who completes the online training program will receive a signed certificate from Gov. Perry.

“Regardless of how busy we are, there are endless creative ways to work exercise into our daily routines,” said Perry. “Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or taking a walk with a friend after work instead of going to dinner are small ways everyone can improve their health. I encourage all Texans to find an easy way to incorporate exercise into their daily lives.”

An avid runner, Gov. Perry has made fitness and healthy lifestyles choices an important part of his healthcare initiatives. Too many Texans face serious health problems as a result of poor nutrition and lack of exercise. Complications from being obese cost the state billions of dollars each year from lost productivity and increased burden on the healthcare system.

For a complete list of Texas Round-Up affiliate cities and fitness events, please visit www.texasroundup.org.

14 Creative Ways to Say "I Love You" This Valentine's Day

RALEIGH, NC -  Michael Webb, founder of TheRomantic.com shares 14 creative (yet inexpensive) ways to say "I Love You" this February 14.

Sleep under the stars
Buy some glow in the dark stars from the toy department and
arrange a special message above your bed.

Their very own coloring book
Draw a dozen or so silly pictures of memorable experiences
(browse through photo albums for ideas). Outline in black marker
and then have the pages copied and bound on heavy paper at a copy shop. Give with a pack of crayons.

Computer romance
Change the screen saver on the computer to a scrolling message. For added effect, use a wingding or character font that can't be read without decoding.

Got milk?
Hide a bunch of silly prizes and a card in your love's favorite cereal.

Jump start the romance
Tie your card or gift on a three foot string and tie it to the bottom
of an automatic garage door. When your honey comes home, the gift will magically arise to greet them.

Rubber ducky races
Go to a nearby river or stream and race rubber ducks. The loser
takes the winner out for dessert.

Warm the heart
While your love is in the shower, put their towel in the dryer for
a few minutes so it will be toasty warm when he or she steps out.

Music to their ears
In your own voice, record a book, fairy tale or poetry on tape for
your dearest to listen to on the way to work or while he or she is
out of town.

A winter picnic
Move the living room furniture and have a picnic in the middle of
the floor complete with blanket, picnic basket and all the fixings
(in front of a roaring fireplace would add to the effect).

Send a mail bomb
Sending a card can be explosively romantic just by adding
something unexpected: a feather, leaf, matches, lock of your hair,
pressed flower or your handkerchief scented with perfume/cologne.

The personal touch
Gently scratch his back for ten minutes while he falls asleep or brush her hair for the same amount of time.

Mirror, mirror on the wall
Use Rain-X Anti Fog (used to keep car windows from fogging up)
and a cotton swab to write a message that will mysteriously appear on the bathroom mirror while your sweetheart is showering. Or put that old tube of lipstick to good use with a good morning greeting on the mirror.

The Jelly Belly game
Blindfold him and feed him Jelly Bellys. If he guesses the flavor
correctly, he gets a prize. If he guesses wrong, you get a prize. To
make it more interesting, combine flavors (rootbeer + ice cream = root beer float, coconut + pineapple = pina colada, chocolate + cherry = chocolate covered cherries, etc.).

Welcome home!
Use chalk to write a welcome home greeting on the sidewalk.

Need more ideas? You can find over 10,000 free romantic tips and ideas at www.TheRomantic.com.

Playoff Picture

The District Champion Santa Anna Lady Mountaineers await to find out their opponent from the outcome of Tuesday's game between Rule and Spur.

The UIL Playoff Bracket showed the game scheduled in Post for Friday at 8:00 PM, but that has been taken off. According to Randy Turner's ColemanNews.com Coach Libby said the game will likely be on Friday in Trent, Jim Ned, or Merkel.

I hope to have a better idea of where and when the game will be by Thursday.

The Lady Mountaineers fell to Winters 55-38 in a practice game in Coleman last Friday but won a practice with Newcastle 53-33 in Cisco Monday night.

The winner will take on the winner of the Zephyr and Guthrie game. Zephyr beat Paint Rock 53-50 in the first round and Guthrie had a bye.

Perry: First High-Intensity Phase of Operation Wrangler Made Texas Safer

Feb. 13, 2007

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today announced that the first high intensity phase of Operation Wrangler led to the apprehension of numerous criminals and drug shipments and made Texans safer. The first high-intensity phase of Operation Wrangler was conducted from January 17 to January 29, and involved the coordinated efforts of state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. Operation Wrangler remains an active law enforcement operation and will reenter the high intensity or “surge” phase in various geographic regions at various times in the future.

“The initial high intensity phase of Operation Wrangler has taken hundreds of criminals and thousands of pounds of illegal drugs off Texas streets,” Perry said. “This latest operation has not only made Texans safer, it underscores the need for lawmakers to provide the $100 million Texas needs to continue these operations while the federal government implements new border security measures.”

Operation Wrangler is the second phase of Operation Rio Grande, which was launched February 2006 and reduced all crime by an average of 60 percent in sheriff-patrolled areas of border counties during five surge operations. Operation Wrangler is the statewide expansion of those highly successful border security surge operations.

“We have a border security strategy that works,” Perry said. “When we substantially increase law enforcement personnel and resources, we see a significant disruption of criminal and illegal activity.”

Under continuing Operation Wrangler efforts, Perry said his office will continue to coordinate and stage similar intelligence-driven security operations along the border and drug and human smuggling corridors across the state.

“The international drug cartels and human smuggling rings will not be given the advantage of knowing when or where these operations will occur, what type of activities they will encompass, or how long the operations will last,” Perry added. “But they can be certain that when it comes to border security, Texas is not sitting idly by.”

The Border Security Operations Center within the State Operations Center serves as a central point of coordination for state, local and federal officials during Operation Wrangler. The 11 Joint Operational Intelligence Centers (JOIC) are positioned throughout the state and provide real-time information and intelligence in support of these surge operations. The JOICs located at border patrol offices along the border include El Paso, Marfa, Del Rio, Laredo and McAllen. Other centers are located along smuggling corridors at area law enforcement departments in Houston, Corpus Christi, Garland, Waco, Lubbock and Midland. Several New Mexico law enforcement agencies, including the state police and the border sheriffs, participated in this coordinated effort.

In addition to the more than 1,700 Texas Army National Guard (TANG) troops Gov. Perry activated for Operation Jump Start to support U.S. Border Patrol activities, he activated an additional 604 troops, comprising 12 armed security platoons. The TANG will continue to be deployed to various crossovers along the Rio Grande River to support Operation Wrangler, and will be accompanied by a Border Patrol agent and a local law enforcement officer.

Local, state and federal agencies involved in the statewide surge of Operation Wrangler included local sheriffs’ offices and police departments; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Texas Department of Transportation; the National Park Service; the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the Texas Civil Air Patrol; the Texas Cattleman’s Association; Texas Military Forces; Texas Task Force 1; the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Immigration & Customs Enforcement; the Railroad Police; the U.S. Transportation Security Agency; the U.S. Postal Service; the U.S. Coast Guard; and the University of Texas Center for Space Research. The above agencies and others will continue to work together, and targeted surge operations will be conducted based upon the evolving threat.

Perry has proposed that the Texas Legislature approve an additional $100 million during the legislative session to sustain border security efforts and ongoing operations.

“As I have said before, a strong Texas border means a safer America,” Perry said. “And until the federal government fulfills its responsibility to secure the nation’s borders, we will continue to exhaust all available means at the state level to secure the Texas-Mexico border and protect our families and communities.”

A summary of incidents from January 17 to January 29 is available below.

Operation Wrangler Summary of Incidents, January 22 – January 29

Criminal Gang Members Arrested

• 1 – LOCO 13 (local Rio Grande Valley)
• 2 Mexican Mafia
• 1 Hermanos Pistoleros
• 1 18th Street Gang
• 1 Valley Boys
• 1 Vallucos
• 4 Texas Syndicate
• 1 Texas Chicano Brotherhood
• 1 Sur 13
• 1 Tango Blasters

Contraband Seizures

• Marijuana – 27,432 lbs
• Crack and Powder Cocaine - 50,287 gms
• Heroin – 8,221 gms
• Methamphetamine – 8,745 gms
• Ecstacy – 21 gms
• PCP – 7gms
• Prescription Drugs – 8,626 gms

Monetary Seizures

• $1,695,806 cash (U.S. dollars)
• 17,200 pesos (= $1,565.20)

Probable cause referrals to the Border Patrol and/or Immigration and Customs Enforcement

• 967 Mexican Nationals
• 430 Other Than Mexican Nationals
• 26 Special Interest Aliens (Jordan – 1; China – 7; Cuba – 1; Eretria – 1; Brazil – 16)
• 1350 Nationality Not Specified

Arrests Made for Crimes Against People

• 136 Human Smuggling
• 26 Aggravated Assault
• 5 Aggravated Robbery
• 2 Kidnapping

Arrests Made for Crimes Against Property

• 74 Stolen Vehicles
• 19 Burglaries
• 17 Thefts

Other Arrests

• 14 Firearms Violations
• 238 DWI
• 247 DWLI (Driving with license invalid)
• 169 Fugitive Warrants
• 25,760 Traffic Violations
• 2 Illegal Fishing

Cyber Crimes Unit Arrests Vernon Man Following Indictment On Child Pornography Charges

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Cybertip leads to discovery of more than 600 sexually explicit images of children

WICHITA FALLS – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Cyber Crimes Unit today arrested 30-year-old Jason Brian Anthony, of Vernon, after a Wilbarger County grand jury indicted him on child pornography charges. Assistant Attorney General Angela Goodwin presented the case to the grand jury Thursday after the Cyber Crimes Unit discovered more than 600 sexually explicit images and video of children on Anthony’s computer equipment.

“Texans will not tolerate criminals who exploit our children,” said Attorney General Abbott. “The Cyber Crimes Unit will continue its aggressive crackdown of insidious predators who possess and promote child pornography. We are grateful to Wilbarger County District Attorney Staley Heatly’s office and the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for helping us bring this man to justice.”

Media links

Jason Anthony

The case against Anthony began with a cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which referred the tip to the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. New York authorities then referred the case to the Office of the Attorney General after discovering the computer account was located in Vernon, Texas.

A forensic examination of Anthony’s computer and external media conducted by the Cyber Crimes Unit revealed files containing child pornography. On Feb. 8, he was indicted on 13 counts of possession and one count of promotion of child pornography. The Wilbarger County District Attorney’s office assisted the Cyber Crimes Unit with Anthony’s arrest.

Possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Promotion is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Attorney General Abbott has earned a national reputation for arresting and prosecuting online child predators. Shortly after taking office, he created the Cyber Crimes Unit, which targets online predators by assuming the identities of young teenagers in Internet chat rooms. Investigators have arrested 92 men who used teen chat rooms to arrange meetings with underage victims. In addition, Cyber Crimes Unit prosecutors have obtained convictions against 56 men on child pornography charges.

In May 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Cyber Crimes Unit a $300,000 grant that funded an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The grant enabled the Unit to increase cooperative efforts with law enforcement agencies across Texas and to expand the Unit’s online child exploitation crackdown.

Attorney General Abbott’s Fugitive Unit, established in 2003, further protects children by locating and arresting parole-violating sex offenders. The Fugitive Unit has arrested more than 450 parolees, unregistered sex offenders and other convicted criminals. Together, the Cyber Crimes and Fugitive units have yielded more than 500 sexual predator arrests.

For more information, contact the Texas Attorney General's office at (800) 252-8011 or visit the Attorney General's Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us.

Left-Overs: How to Make them Work for You

Submitted by Debbie Hailey, CEA-FCS

Are you wondering what to do with the left-over roast or chicken? Does your family balk at the idea of "Left-overs"? We have some answers to share with you.

The Coleman County Extension Office, in collaboration with Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry and Coleman Housing Authority, will sponsor a class on How to Handle Left-Overs Safely and make them into Delicious Meals. Join us Thursday, February 15, at 1:00 p.m. at the Coleman Housing Authority High Rise Community Room for an informative lesson.

Popular Texas Grazing School for Novices Accepting Students

Feb. 12, 2007
Writer: Robert Burns, 903-834-6191,rd-burns@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Monte Rouquette, 903-834-6191,m-rouquette@tamu.edu

OVERTON - The Grazing School for Novices is now accepting enrollment for the 2007 spring classes. The spring classes will be held at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Overton.

The grazing school classes, each three days long, are some of the most well-received educational programs ever conducted at the center, said Dr. Monte Rouquette, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researcher.

Enrollment for either of two 2007 classes, held March 27 -29 and April 3-5, is limited to 50 students, and both classes are already half filled, Rouquette said.

"If prospective students want to secure a place in either school, they should call and register now," he said.

To register or for more information, contact Jennifer Lloyd by phone 903-834-6191 or by e-mail:jll076@tamu.edu . Lloyd will have information on class openings, local accommodations and driving directions to the center, Rouquette said.

The school has become popular by serving a new class of ranchers - those who don't so much want to fine-tune an existing operation but who are relatively new to ranching and want intensive training in the fundamentals of soil, pasture and cattle management.

"The grazing school is for the novice, and that's what we advertise it for," Rouquette said. "(Novice) doesn't mean it's for a person who has absolutely no knowledge, but for those persons with a range of skills or experience - someone who is just getting into the business, someone who's been in but would like to fine-tune their knowledge of soil tests, forage analysis, animal performance, animal working, inoculations, vaccinations - the whole pasture-animal-care scenario."

About half the three-days for each class is spent in the field for demonstrations of all aspects of running a pasture-beef operation. Covered are: establishing and maintaining high-quality forages, calibrating sprayers, inoculating legume seed, castrating, vaccinating, and de-horning calves, managing pasture and livestock.

Attendees also learn how to establish a business plan for a ranch, keep proper records, evaluate alternative agricultural enterprises, set the correct stocking rates, choose the appropriate cattle breeds for East Texas, pick the optimum animal breeding and calving seasons, promote good animal health, and market their cattle.

By necessity, this kind of training requires a lot of one-on-one help from the instructors, all of whom are faculty either with the Experiment Station or Texas Cooperative Extension. It is because of this need for one-on-one interaction that enrollment is limited to 50, Rouquette said.

In past years (this is the seventh year the class has been held) most students hailed from Texas. But there have also been enrollees from Alaska, Arizona, California, New York, and the country of Bolivia, Rouquette said.

Cost of registration for either class is $350 per person, which includes two evening meals, two lunches, break refreshments and educational materials, including a nearly 400-page workbook written by the Overton center faculty.

Detailed information on the grazing school and the Overton center can be found at http://overton.tamu.edu/grazingschool.htm .

NASA ANNOUNCES THREE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CREWS

WASHINGTON - NASA and its international partners have named the crews that will live and work aboard the International Space Station for the next two years. The crew members make up three expeditions to the station and represent four space agencies.

The assignments include the first long-duration station flight for a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut and the second long-duration station flight for an astronaut from the European Space Agency (ESA). The JAXA and ESA astronauts will work on the installation and checkout of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo and European Columbus laboratories on the station.

NASA astronaut and veteran station crew member Peggy A. Whitson will command Expedition 16, set to begin in fall 2007. The flight engineers for the mission include cosmonaut and Russian Air Force Col. Yuri I. Malenchenko, ESA astronaut and French Air Force Brig. Gen. Leopold Eyharts and NASA astronaut Garrett E. Reisman.

Malenchenko will command the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that will carry him and Whitson to the station and return them to Earth in spring 2008. They will join NASA astronaut Daniel M. Tani aboard the station.

Eyharts will fly to the station on space shuttle mission STS-122, which is expected to deliver the Columbus lab this fall. Eyharts will remain on the station to oversee activation and checkout of the laboratory, while Tani takes the shuttle home.

Reisman will fly on shuttle Endeavour's STS-123 mission to replace Eyharts. Reisman will remain on the station for about six months and return on shuttle mission STS-119, targeted for summer 2008. Russian Air Force Lt. Col. Sergei Volkov will command Expedition 17. Expedition 17 flight engineers include cosmonaut Oleg D. Kononenko and NASA astronaut Sandra H. Magnus.

Kononenko will command the Soyuz spacecraft that will carry him and Volkov to the station in spring 2008 and bring them home in fall 2008.

Magnus will arrive on STS-119 and remain aboard the station. Magnus will return on the STS-126 mission targeted for summer 2008. NASA astronaut and station veteran Air Force Lt. Col. E. Michael Fincke will command Expedition 18. Expedition 18 flight engineers include cosmonaut and veteran station crew member Russian Air Force Col. Salizhan S. Sharipov, JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata and NASA astronaut Gregory E. Chamitoff.

Sharipov will command the Soyuz that will carry him and Fincke to the station in fall 2008 and back to Earth in spring 2009. Wakata will fly to the station on STS-126 to replace Magnus. Magnus will return to Earth on STS-126. Chamitoff will fly to the station on the STS-127 mission, targeted for winter 2008, the third and final flight for assembly of the Japanese Kibo lab. Wakata will return to Earth on STS-127. Chamitoff will return home on a later shuttle or Soyuz mission. Expedition 16 backup crew members:
Fincke for Whitson
Sharipov for Malenchenko
ESA astronaut Frank DeWinne for Eyharts
NASA astronaut Army Lt. Col. Timothy L. Kopra for Reisman.

Expedition 17 backup crew members:
Cosmonaut and veteran station crew member Sergei Krikalev for Volkov
Cosmonaut Russian Air Force Col. Maxim V. Suraev for Kononenko
NASA astronaut Nicole P. Stott for Magnus.

Video of the prime crew members will air on NASA TV's Video File. For NASA TV downlink, streaming video and scheduling information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For complete crew biographies, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html

For more about upcoming space shuttle missions, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Turfgrass Maintenance a $7 Billion or Better Business in Texas

Feb. 9, 2007
Writer: Robert Burns, 903-834-6191,rd-burns@tamu.edu
Contact: Randy Reeves, 903-935-8413,dr-reeves@tamu.edu
Daniel Duncum, 903-297-3818,dduncum@tfs.tamu.edu

OVERTON – More than 150 professional managers of landscapes for school districts, city parks and sports fields attended the annual East Texas Turfgrass Conference on Feb. 1.

Managing turfgrass during drought was a common theme of many of the presentations, said Randy Reeves, Texas Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture in Harrison County and one of the event's coordinators.

"We've been in a two-year drought," Reeves said. "Of course 2006 was really bad, and 2005, the year before, was bad. So drought is on everybody's mind."

But the conference was not all about drought, Reeves said.

"Several topics are covered: soil fertility, how fertilizers work in the soil," Reeves said. "We talk about soil structures; we talk about aerification; we talk about basic turf care, diseases, insects and a world of things."

Turfgrass is big business in Texas. In 2001, Texans spent about $6 billion maintaining turfgrass, with about 250,000 full-time employees, according to Dr. Richard Duble, Extension turfgrass specialist.

Today, the total amount spent is estimated to be $7 billion to $8 billion, Duble said.

Writing in "Economic Impact of Turfgrass" Duble notes that home lawns comprise the largest single component of the money spent, more than 50 percent. Single-family household expenditures are usually followed by commercial businesses, golf courses and multi-family households. Public schools are far down the list, according to Duble's report.

With less to spend, schools have to be more efficient at managing their turfgrass, said Cecil Newton, who manages the athletic fields for the Jacksonville School District. Athletic arenas, which see hard use, require close management, and Extension trainings have played a big role in helping him stay proficient in the latest techniques.

"This Extension service which manages this training in turfgrass management is in my opinion excellent," Newton said. "I have learned a lot of cultural practices at these conferences and techniques that we can incorporate into our fields to provide a better playing surface for the athletes. It helps prevent injuries and those kind of things. And offers a beautiful aesthetic environment. ... Fortunately, some of the stuff we learn at these conference gives us the opportunity to incorporate those practices."

One of the program speakers was a departure from the usual programming concentrating on turfgrasses, Reeves said. Daniel Duncum, with the Texas Forest Service, talked about managing landscape trees during drought.

"Some of the problems we been finding in the last few years ... particularly in the yard trees, and the urban/city trees is loss of primary oaks and pines," said Duncum, who is the urban district forester for northeast Texas and based in Longview. " Most of the oaks are being killed by a disease called hypoxylon canker."

The disease occurs primarily in trees that have been stressed, Duncum said. It causes a dark brown discoloration of the sapwood. Drought may be one cause of the stress; construction and the use of fill soil may also trigger the disease. Diagnosis of the disease is usually a death sentence for an oak.

"There's really nothing we can do about that as far as a spray is concerned," Duncum said. "We try to encourage people to keep their trees as healthy as possible. Water when they can; fertilize if they need to."

Drought-induced stress also puts trees at higher risk from insect infestation. In the case of pine trees, the most common drought-associated insect in East Texas is the pine bark beetle. Although it's not a certainty that intervention won't work, a treatment is not a sure cure, Duncum said.

"In a lot of cases you can spray for pine bark beetle, but in a lot cases you're going to be looking at removal (of the tree)," he said.

Often homeowners contribute to a tree-death by poor management during a drought, Duncum said. And the most common drought-time mismanagement practice is fertilization.

"There a lot of folks who feel like they need to fertilize their tree because they are stressed," he said. "And that's true; they are stressed. But what the trees need is water – not fertilization."

Duncum explained that fertilizing a drought-stressed tree stimulates it to step up its metabolism, to "burn more energy to respond to the food you put out there."

And when it burns more energy, it uses more water, and the result is further harm to the tree.

"So for drought times provide the water," he said.

Topping Trees Can Be Deadly

Feb. 9, 2007
Writer: Rod Santa Ana III, 956-968-5585,r-santaana@tamu.edu
Contact: Paul Johnson, 956-969-5654,pjohnson@tft.tamu.edu

WESLACO - Paul Johnson goes through a range of emotions when he sees trees being topped: anger, disgust, sorrow, frustration and worse. That's why he, as an urban forester with the Texas Forest Service in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, is spreading the word that topping does serious damage to trees, their value and the value of the entire urban forest.

"Topping is a kind word for the indiscriminate butchering of a tree," Johnson said. "It is the most harmful tree-pruning practice known, yet is very common."

In usually well-intentioned efforts to prune back or reduce the size of a tree, tree trimmers and homeowners sometimes go overboard, leaving nothing more than the tree trunk and a few stumps branching from it, Johnson said. The entire crown of a tree, the area that contains a tree's leaves, is chopped off and hauled away.

"Topping is bad," Johnson said. "Don't do it. It's tree mismanagement at its worst. When people indiscriminately cut large branches at mid-stream and leave a large stub of a branch behind, they are doing great harm to the tree that could lead to decay and eventually kill the tree."

When a spring flush pushes tiny branches out of the ends of those stumps, they are very weakly attached to the branch, he explained. A strong wind, insects or disease can easily wipe them out, leaving the tree without a food source and susceptible to decay.

"Topping a tree reduces the value and longevity of that tree," Johnson said. "Valuable tree shade is gone, and the tree is just not going to live as long as it should."

Less is better when pruning a tree, Johnson said.

"Try to never remove more than 25 percent of the crown, the leafy area of the tree," he said. "And when you do trim off a branch, don't cut it flush to the trunk, but don't leave a big stump either."

With the weather improving and more people outdoors pruning trees, Johnson sees other "tree violations" that harm trees.

"Tree trimmers that use spikes to climb up a tree are leaving large wounds in the tree that serve as entry points for insects and diseases," he said. "Lion-tailing, or mule-tailing is another no-no. This is when a homeowner will strip all the leaves off a limb except those at the very end. That leaves a branch looking like lion's tail. This is as bad as topping a tree."

Those leaves closer to the trunk are there for a reason and should not be removed, Johnson said. They serve as a second line of defense of a tree, protecting its trunk from sunburn. They also help strengthen the entire limb from wind damage and serve as a tree's food source.

"If a tree's outer leaves are removed by insects, ice or wind, the interior leaves become the food factory for the tree," he said. "Trees live off its inner leaves. They are important for the long-term life of the tree."

So, what is the proper way to trim a tree? Proper tree pruning is difficult to explain without using illustrations or photos, Johnson said. He suggested hiring a qualified tree trimmer certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, or visiting ISA's Web site at http://www.treesaregood.com .

The loss of a tree affects the entire community, Johnson said.

"The trees of a community or a city are considered an urban forest, and when even one tree is damaged or lost, it hurts everybody's property," he said. "Proper tree care is everybody's responsibility because we all benefit from healthy trees."

Johnson urges homeowners to turn away tree trimmers who offer tree topping.

"Find a qualified tree trimmer who knows what he or she is doing," he said. "It could mean the difference between a thriving, beautiful tree and a dead one."

For more information, contact Johnson at 956-969-5654, or e-mail pjohnson@tfs.tamu.edu.

Multi-County Seminar Will Focus on Feral Hogs

Feb. 9, 2007
Writer: Paul Schattenberg, 210-467-6575,paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Rachel Bauer, 512-398-3122,caldwell@ag.tamu.edu

LULING – Texas Cooperative Extension will be one of the sponsors of a multi-county seminar on feral hogs to be held Feb. 20 in Luling. The seminar will be from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Luling Civic Center, 333 East Austin Street.

Topics will include feral hog biology, landowner attitudes about feral hogs, feral hogs and water quality, laws and regulations concerning feral hogs, and feral hog control.

"Landowners who attend the seminar will learn a lot about how to better manage their feral hog population," said Rachel Bauer, Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources for Caldwell County. "While it's difficult for landowners to completely control feral hogs, we can show them how to lessen the amount of damage they can cause."

Extension offices in Caldwell, Hays, Gonzales and Guadalupe counties are among the seminar sponsors, Bauer said. Additional sponsors are the Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Wildlife Management Services. Attendees will receive five hours of pesticide applicator continuing education credits: one in laws and regulations, two in integrated pest management and two in the general category.

The cost for the seminar is $20 per person by Feb. 16 and $25 per person at the door. The fee includes handouts lunch and snacks.

Individuals with disabilities who plan to attend and may need additional aids, services or accommodations should contact the Extension office in Caldwell County at 512-398-3122 or in Hays County at 512-393-2120 at least five days prior to the event.

Checks should be made payable to the Caldwell Demonstration Fund and sent to: Caldwell County Extension Office, 1400 B FM 20 East, Lockhart, TX 78644.

‘Women of the Land’ Workshop Offered March 24-25

Feb. 5, 2007

ALBANY, Texas — Landowners and other women interested in learning about land management, hunting basics and outdoor skills are invited to this year’s “Women of the Land,” workshop held at Stasney’s Cook Ranch in Albany, Texas, March 24-25.

The weekend seminar will offer a variety of classes to its participants, including: wildlife identification and management, deer and quail ecology, outdoor cooking, rifle and shotgun basics, ranch and wildlife management planning, and healthy streams and clean water management.

Saturday evening will feature an informal landowner panel called “Dessert, Coffee and Conservation,” focusing on stewardship and land management, with plenty of time allotted for questions.

“Talking with the actual landowners who are doing this work is always a highlight,” said Linda Campbell, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department private lands program director.

Another highlight of the workshop is the opportunity for mothers to bring their daughters along.

“The idea is to pass on the heritage of land stewardship,” said Campbell. “This is a good opportunity for interested teenagers who are helping their parents in the ranching business.”

Women age 14 and older are eligible to attend.

“Women of the Land 2007” is sponsored by the Texas Wildlife Association, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative and Stasney’s Cook Ranch.

The workshop’s registration deadline is March 1. Cost of the program is $150 for participants arriving on Saturday. Friday night lodging is available for an extra fee. For more information contact Linda Campbell at linda.campbell@tpwd.state.tx.us or (512) 389-4395 or Helen Holdsworth at h_holdsworth@texas-wildlife.org or (210) 826-2904.

A“Women of the Land 2007” flyer can be found online through the Texas Wildlife Association Website. Other workshops of interest can be located on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Web site, and more information on Stasney’s Cook Ranch can also be found on the Web.

———
On the Net:

• http://www.texas-wildlife.org/
• http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/private/workshops/
• http://www.stasneyscookranch.com/

Town and Country Women’s Fair

Submitted by Debbie Hailey, Coleman County Extension Agent-Family & Consumer Sciences

Contributed by Judy Gully, CEA-FCS, Taylor County

The ninth annual Town and Country Women’s Fair, held in conjunction with the Texas Farm-Ranch-Wildlife Expo, will be Tuesday, February 20. Plan to join women from Abilene and the surrounding area in the Modern Living Mall on the Expo Center fairgrounds in Abilene for a day of fun and education. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the day will end at approximately 2:00 p.m. This event is free to the public and the sessions on a variety of topics will be of interest to all. You can spend the day with us or pick and choose the sessions you want to attend. Conference facilities are accessible for physically disabled.

The schedule includes:
8:30 a.m. Registration and coffee
9:00 a.m. MasterScapes® Inc. - Scott Warren
10:00 a.m. Break & Door Prizes
10:15 a.m. Preserving, Using and Appreciation of Vintage Sewing Machines by Marilyn Hale, Llano County Extension
11:00 a.m. Identity Theft by Officer Dwight Kinney, Abilene Police Department
Noon Lunch & Fashion Show
1:00 p.m. Crayon Quilt by Bluebonnet Mercantile
2:00 p.m. Evaluation Door Prizes

The opening session on gardening will include ideas for getting your beds ready and plants suitable for shady and sunny locations. Scott Warren with Masterscapes®, Inc. will present this colorful session. After hearing Marilyn Hale, County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in Llano County, you will appreciate the history and value of Grandma’s sewing machine in the back closet. You will learn how to dust it off and display it proudly. Identity Theft is a topic we all need current information on and Officer Dwight Kinney, of the Abilene Police Department, will provide us with tools to keep your personal information private. A natural fibers show featuring the latest fashions for all ages will be presented during lunch. No, that box of crayons is not for just your kids and grandkids any more. The Bluebonnet Mercantile from Winters will inspire us to complete a crayon quilt after watching their demonstration. The Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Committee has planned a day filled with fun and creative ideas to promote agricultural food and fiber products. The slogan is, “if you eat and wear clothes, you are involved in agriculture.” We look forward to seeing you on the 20th of February for the Town and Country Women’s Fair in the Modern Living Mall on the grounds of the Taylor County Expo Center.

Texas Farm, Ranch, Wildlife Expo Set for Feb. 20-21 in Abilene

Feb.5, 2007
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576,s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Gary Bomar, 325-672-6048,g-bomar@tamu.edu

ABILENE - The annual Texas Farm, Ranch, Wildlife Expo is set for Feb. 20-21 on the grounds of the Taylor County Expo Center. The center is located at 1700 state Highway 36 in Abilene. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 21.

The event is sponsored by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce and Texas Cooperative Extension.

The show features educational seminars, equipment exhibits, product demonstrations, the Town and Country Women's Fair, the Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association's annual meeting, and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce's annual membership luncheon. Highlight of the luncheon is the naming of the Taylor County Farm Family of the Year.

Ten Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units are offered during the educational seminars.

The women's fair starts at 9 a.m. Feb. 20 in the Modern Living Mall.

The show's agricultural-related educational programs begin at 8 a.m. Feb. 20 with "Tools III, Intensive Wildlife Management Seminar,"in the Western Heritage Ranch House.

The seminar "Range Management for Livestock and Wildlife," starts at 8:30 a.m. in the Extension Classroom.

The Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association's annual meeting followed by their membership luncheon starts at 10 a.m. in the Big Country Hall.

The afternoon "Cotton Production in 2007" follows at 1 p.m. in the Big Country Hall.

Concurrent programs on Feb. 21 begin at 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Included are an 8 a.m. Texas Department of Agriculture re-certification course in the Big Country Hall, a Texas Wildlife Association Membership Meeting at 8:30 a.m. in the Extension Classroom and a Wildlife Food Plot Workshop in the Western Heritage Ranch House also at 8:30 a.m.

The chamber of commerce luncheon will be at noon on Feb. 21 in the Big Country Hall. Keynote speaker is Dr. Elsa Murano of College Station, vice chancellor and dean for agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M University and director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

"Water, Watersheds and Stream Health Conference," the final educational program, starts at 2 p.m. in the Big Country Hall.

The seminars are free to the public with the exception of the "Tools III, Intensive Wildlife Management Seminar," which has an individual registration of $35 by Feb. 16 and $50 thereafter.

Tickets for the chamber of commerce luncheon are available at the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, 325-677-7241, for $15.

For more information contact the Extension office in Taylor County at 325-672-6048.

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