World Championship Bison Cookoff in Santa Anna

In 1994, Santa Anna, Texas hosted the first World Championship Bison Cookoff, in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored festival called Funtier days, which had already existed for nine years. Sanctioning from Texas Bison Association and Lone Star Barbecue Society gave the event credibility. The Board of Directors of the Texas Bison Association agreed to serve as judges, so that the unique character of the meat would be protected. In 2000, sanctioning was changed to the West Texas Barbecue Association in Midland, which joined the International Barbecue Cookers Association in 2003.

In 2004, State Senator Troy Fraser carried through a resolution declaring Funtier Days World Championship Bison Cookoff as the Official State Bison Cook-off of the State of Texas. With this declaration, points gained by cooks at the event count toward the cumulative totals to qualify for the Jack Daniels National and the Kansas City National Barbecue Cook, and the Overall Champion receives an automatic entry to the KC Nationals.

Bison meat, once a staple that fed American Indians, is now a healthy option for modern day Americans. Bison that we eat today are farm raised, not wild, but still offer the health advantages of their ancestors. The animals are raised on pasture which produces a lean and healthy meat. Since bison are native to America, they don’t need antibiotics or growth hormones like cattle. Bison meat tastes like what beef wishes it tasted like! Additionally, bison meat is leaner and has less fat and cholesterol than chicken! All the bison cooked in Santa Anna is supplied from Texas producers through Wenzel Lone Star Meats in Hamilton, Texas

To enjoy a delicious plate of this tasty barbecue, be sure to be in line at 12 noon, the third Saturday in May, at Funtier Square in Santa Anna! Don’t be late!

May. 17, 2007

Gov. Perry Praises the Creation of Texas Task Force Two

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today praised the recent addition to Texas’ urban search and rescue capabilities, Texas Task Force 2 (TTF2). TTF2 was developed by the City of Dallas and received training and developmental support provided by Texas Engineering Extension Service Texas Task Force 1. TTF2 will be activated and deployed by the governor with the concurrence of the City of Dallas city manager.

“Texas Task Force 2 will play a vital role in search and rescue missions throughout the state in times of disaster,” Perry said. “Texas is uniquely prepared for disaster situations with the skilled emergency personnel of Texas Task Force 1, and now, Texas Task Force 2, who are all trained to act swiftly to protect and save lives when Texans are most vulnerable.”

TTF2, a Type III Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, is located in Dallas and is administered by the Dallas Fire Department. With more than 160 members trained in multiple disciplines, the task force is capable of deploying to areas across the state with one of three 42 member platoons. TTF2 emergency response includes the capability to perform technical searches, technical rescues, canine searches, address medical needs, respond to hazmat incidents, provide logistical support and planning, and provide a sophisticated, interoperable communications platform.

Texas Task Force 1 is a 300-member force that is nationally recognized for its unique search and rescue capabilities. It was deployed to New York City following the terrorist attack on 9/11, to New Orleans following the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, and most recently, the full Task Force was deployed to assist in search and rescue operations in Maverick County as a result of the tragic tornado that struck that area April 24. Texas Task Force 1’s urban search and rescue and water rescue teams have expertise in responding to both man-made and natural disasters. Members include firefighters, medical specialists, canines and handlers, heavy equipment operators, structural engineers and other specialty emergency responders.

SILVER ALERT TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER

Wednesday, May 16, 2007
- Giddings A Joint Author-

Austin, Texas ~ State Representative Helen Giddings (Dallas) proudly joint authored Senate Bill 1315 establishing the Silver Alert. The Silver Alert requires the Department of Public Safety to develop an alert system for missing senior citizens and provides for the administration and usage of the system and the duties of the involved entities.


Elderly individuals with dementia related diseases, such as Alzheimer's or other mentally debilitating diseases may wander away from their residences, sometimes with tragic results. An alert system similar to the Amber Alert Program will help to locate these persons before any harm happens to them.


Giddings says, "I worked with the Silver Haired Legislature and those with personal experiences to develop this measure. We want to take the idea of an Amber Alert for missing seniors one step further. There is an entire population of people who will benefit from this legislation. Police officers work very hard, and I think this tool will help them do their job. Family members will have a resource to help search for their loved ones. Seniors and the mentally, physically, and medically disabled individuals can take comfort in knowing there is help."

SENATE STRENGTHENS DOG BITE PENALTIES

Senator Craig Estes of Wichita Falls offers and amendment to Senator Shapleigh's bill to increase penalties for dog attacks in Texas.

(AUSTIN) -- Owners who let dangerous dogs roam free could face jail time if those dogs hurt someone under a bill passed by the Senate Thursday. El Paso Senator Eliot Shapleigh says that the current law, under which owners face only a misdemeanor charge, is out of proportion to the severity of the injuries dog mauling victims receive. Under his bill, owners would be criminally liable and face a third degree felony for a dog that attacks a person on public property, and a second degree felony if the dog kills someone.

The Senate also approved a bill Thursday that would require seatbelts in school buses. The bill, by Senator Eddie Lucio of Brownsville, would mandate that all school buses be equipped with three-point safety harnesses by September 1, 2010. It would also require that any buses chartered by a school be equipped with the harnesses, but that provision wouldn't go into effect until 2014. Lucio says kids should be as safe on buses as they are when they get into the family car. "It's time we stop sending our children mixed messages by requiring them to buckle up in a car but not in a school bus," he said. "This law is just common sense."

Senator Eliot Shapleigh passed a bill today that would make it a third degree felony if a dog attacks another person through criminal negligence on the part of the owner.

The Texas version of Jessica's Law is headed to the Governor's desk. The Senate voted to approve the conference committee report on the bill, which reflects compromise language between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Little has changed between the version the Senate passed last month, by Greenville Senator Robert Deuell, and the version approved Thursday. Aggravated sexual offenses against children under 14 still carries a 25-year minimum sentence, and prosecutors could seek the death penalty for a second such offense. The major change in the new version would require local law enforcement officials to track sex offenses in their area, but they would not have to report those crimes biannually to the Legislature. Lt. Governor David Dewhurst applauded the Senate for approving the conference committee report. "From the beginning of this session, passing a 'Texas tough' Jessica's Law has been one of my top priorities to better protect the children of Texas from child predators and send a message to those monsters who want to hurt our children, 'not in Texas,' " Dewhurst said.

The Senate will reconvene Friday, May 18, at 10 a.m.

Session video and all other webcast recordings can be accessed from the Senate website's audio and video archive pages.

May. 17, 2007

Gov. Perry Urges Texans to Prepare for 2007 Hurricane Season

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry proclaimed May 20-26, 2007, Hurricane Awareness Week. Perry, along with the National Weather Service and the Governor's Division of Emergency Management, is urging all Texans to be prepared for the 2007 hurricane season, which officially starts June 1.

“I urge all Texans to be mindful of the dangers presented by hurricanes, to stay informed about current threats, and to take steps toward preparedness,” Perry said. “While residents along the coast are among the first impacted by a hurricane, we must keep in mind that these massive storms can cause flooding and tornadoes hundreds of miles from the coastal areas where they make landfall.”

Families should designate a place to go in case of evacuation, develop an emergency plan for communicating with relatives and friends in other areas, and put together a "readiness kit" of important supplies, including items such as a battery-operated radio and flashlight. Texans are also urged to heed all warnings, information and instructions provided by emergency management personnel.

In fall 2005, Perry appointed the Task Force on Evacuation, Transportation and Logistics to take testimony from local officials, emergency response personnel and citizens on lessons learned from Hurricane Rita. In March 2006, the governor issued an executive order implementing the task force recommendations, which focus on five key areas: the evacuation of people with special needs; command, control and communications; traffic management; fuel availability; and public awareness.

Last week, the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management hosted the 2007 State Hurricane Preparedness Conference in Galveston, where local, state and federal officials and the emergency response community joined to discuss preparations for the upcoming hurricane season. From June 4 - 7, the state will also conduct a multi-dimensional Hurricane Preparedness Exercise, involving local, state, federal and private sector partners.

“State officials and first responders have collaboratively enhanced the state’s hurricane preparedness and response plans following the recent devastating hurricane seasons,” said Perry. “But there is still more we must do. Advanced planning and preparation by officials and residents are essential to protecting property, reducing risk and ultimately, saving lives.”

For more information about hurricane preparedness, please visit the Governor's Division of Emergency Management website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/

4-H Summer Fashion Fun

Coleman County 4-H Members will have the opportunity to learn sewing and fashion-buying skills once again this year, as we sponsor 2007 Summer Fashion Fun. We will have 4 days of training in how to measure patterns, cut fabric, and sew it up into a well-fitted garment or non-apparel item. Participants will also have an opportunity to make an item for community service.

This event will be at the Coleman High School Sewing Lab, Tuesday through Friday, May 29-June 1. Sewing machines will be available, or bring your own, if you have a portable one.

Age Categories are as follows:
• Clover Kids - (For County Only) - Under 8 years
• Juniors - Age 8 and in third grade to and age 10 on Aug. 31, 2006
• Intermediates - Age 11-13 years of age on August 31, 2006

If you would like to sign up for this project or have any questions, please call County Extension Agent, Debbie Hailey, at 325-625-4519. You can access more information about Summer Fashion Fun, at our website, http://coleman-co.tamu.edu . Click on the Newsletters tab at the top, click on Fashion Show, then on Summer Fashion Fun.

2nd Annual 4-H Dog Dip

Saturday, June 2, 2007
Courthouse Lawn
9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

One Stop - Get *R Done ! ....
Dog Vaccinations/Flea & Tick Control/Spay/Neuter Program

The Coleman 4-H Council will host a Small Animal / Rabies Clinic and Dog Dip on Saturday, June 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the East side of the Courthouse Lawn.

Dr. Mark Swening will be on hand for all your small animal vaccination needs. Cost for rabies vaccinations will be $13.00 with $3.00 from each shot going to 4-H. All vaccinations will be available and may be purchased during the clinic.

4-H members will be volunteers for the dog dip, which will help control of flees and ticks. Johnson Feed Barn will furnish supplies for the dog dip, and 4-H will be accepting donations for the service. Proceeds will benefit the Coleman 4-H Council.

The Coleman County Humane Society will be present to offer free spay / neuter with the FIRST 40 DOGS OVER 40 POUNDS program.

For more information, please call the County Extension Office at 325-625-4519.

POND MANAGEMENT SEMINAR

Thursday, May 24, 2007 - Coleman City Park
3 CEU*s Offered

By: Debbie Hailey, CEA-FCS Coleman County

The Annual Pond Management Seminar will be held on THURSDAY, May 24 at the City Park in Coleman. Registration will be at 8:30 a.m. and the program begins at 9:00 a.m.

Three (3) hours of Continuing Education Units (CEU*s) will be awarded to private applicator license holders with 1 hour being in Integrated Pest Management and 1 hour in Laws & Regulations, and 1 hour in General.

Jim Hudson, District Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Coleman will begin the program with welcome and announcements. Presentors and topics include: Lance Benson with Texas Parks and Wildlife, Vegetation Control and Grass Carp; Mukhtar Faroqui also with Texas Parks and Wildlife - Managing Fish Ponds; Ricky Linex - Natural Resources Conservation Service in Brownwood - Grazing and Watershed Management for Farm Ponds; Cynthia Kruger with USDA Rural Development office in Stephenville - Farm Loan Programs. Jan Hatler with Texas Department of Agriculture will round out the morning*s programs with Laws & Regulations. A noon fish fry for participants will conclude the program.

This year*s seminar could not be possible without the cooperation and sponsorship of area businesses and organizations. Sponsors include: Johnson*s Feed Barn, Purina, Federal Land Bank Association, First Coleman National Bank, Santa Anna National Bank, Central Colorado Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Texas Cooperative Extension.

Please R.S.V.P. to the County Extension Office (325-625-4519) by 5:00 p.m. , Tuesday, May 23rd so an accurate head count can be made for the meal.

Major crime rate lower in 2006

(Report, including specific cities and towns is available at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_information/2006CIT.pdf)

The major crime rate in Texas decreased 5.3 percent in 2006, according to data compiled by the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

Compared with 2005, the crime rate?the number of crimes per 100,000 population in Texas?dropped 5.3 percent in 2006. The violent crime rate decreased 2.3 percent in 2006 from 2005. The property crime rate fell 5.7 percent in 2006.

“The crime rate has declined four straight years thanks to the efforts of our citizens and the law enforcement community,” said Col. Thomas A. Davis, Jr., director of the DPS. “While this is encouraging, there is still much work to be done.”

The total number of major crimes committed was down 2.6 percent in 2006 compared with 2005. Of the seven index crimes, murder was down 1.4 percent; rape was down 1.2 percent.

The total number of arrests in Texas increased 2.9 percent in 2006. The number of juvenile arrests decreased .7 percent, while adult arrests increased 3.5 percent.

The Texas Uniform Crime Reporting Program also collects statistics on hate crimes and family violence incidents.

In 2006, Texas law enforcement agencies reported 247 incidents of hate crimes involving 222 victims and 291 offenders.

Law enforcement agencies reported 186,868 family violence incidents involving 200,803 victims and 197,037 offenders in 2006.

Texas in Bloom

Over 5,000 species of wildflowers along with native grasses flourish along our state's roadsides, thanks to nature and attention from TxDOT.

TxDOT's wildflower program not only helps our highways look good but also reduces the cost of maintenance and labor by encouraging the growth of native species that need less mowing and care. As with grasses, it strives to establish roadsides that blend into their surroundings. The grasses and wildflowers also help to conserve water, control erosion and provide a habitat for wildlife in all the natural regions of Texas.

Our wildflower program is nothing new. Shortly after the Texas Highway Department was organized in 1917, officials noted that wildflowers were among the first vegetation to reappear at roadside cuts and fills. In 1932, the department hired Jac Gubbels, its first landscape architect, to maintain, preserve and encourage wildflowers and other native plants along rights of way. By 1934, department rules delayed all mowing, unless essential for safety, until spring and early summer wildflower seasons were over. This practice has stayed in place for more than 60 years and has expanded into today's full-scale vegetation management system.

Maintenance techniques used to encourage wildflower growth include safety, or strip mowing which allow the wildflowers to bloom and allows native grasses to emerge.

TxDOT buys and sows about 30,000 pounds of wildflower seed each year. The peak wildflower blooming season draws tourists from all across the nation to see the color unfold each spring. The department is pleased with the attention wildflowers attract, however, we discourage picture-taking that damages the wildflowers. If too many wildflowers are trampled, they will die and not go to seed. Since many of these flowers are annuals, this means they have to go to seed to come back the next year. Naturally, we discourage picking the flowers for the same reason.

The wildflower program is part of good stewardship. Today, TxDOT not only plants and enhances wildflower areas but, more importantly, protects and maintains the investment made in years past.

• Wildflower Facts
• Wildflower Photos
• Planting Wildflowers
• Planting Bluebonnets

Comptroller Susan Combs Sends Local Governments $542 Million in Sales Tax Revenue

AUSTIN —Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced the state collected $1.7 billion in sales tax revenue in April, up 10.3 percent compared to April 2006.

“Sales tax revenue continues to show steady growth,” Combs said. “This is true at both the state and local levels, and it indicates that our Texas economy is in good health.”

Combs said local governments will receive $542.5 million in May sales tax allocations, up 8.1 percent compared to May 2006. So far this calendar year, sales tax allocations to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts are up 6.8 percent compared to a year ago.

Comptroller Combs sent May sales tax allocations of $372.6 million to Texas cities, up 8.2 percent compared to May 2006. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are up 7.4 percent compared to the same period last year. Texas counties received sales tax payments of $32.1 million, up 10.9 percent compared to one year ago. Calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are 8.9 percent higher than last year.

In addition, $16.3 million went to 116 special purpose taxing districts throughout the state, up 12.4 percent compared to last May. Ten local transit systems received $121.4 million in sales tax allocations, up 6.4 percent compared to a year ago.

May’s sales tax allocations to local governments represent March sales that were reported to the Comptroller in April by monthly tax filers and January, February and March sales reported to the Comptroller in April by quarterly tax filers.

For details of May sales tax payments to individual cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts, locate the Monthly Sales and Use Tax Allocation Comparison Summary Reports on the Comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/allocsum/compsum.html.

The Comptroller’s next sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, June 8.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Attorney General Abbott Halts Fraudulent Expo Operators Who Scammed Exhibitors

Court issues temporary restraining order, asset freeze against 2 in Round Rock

DALLAS – Attorney General Greg Abbott has frozen assets belonging to two Round Rock residents who unlawfully operated business exposition companies in Texas. The defendants were also charged with fraudulently marketing their businesses in violation of the law.

The district court issued a temporary restraining order requiring Farah and Adma Rabadi, both officers with Delaware-based American Design & Builders Inc. and Milliard Group Inc., to cease operating unless they obtain a certificate of authority from the state. The business had scheduled upcoming Building and Design Expos in Maryland, Missouri, New York and California. In addition to unlawfully marketing their expos, the defendants failed to obtain a certificate of authority from the Texas Secretary of State, which is required of companies that operate the expos in the state of Texas.

“Vendors who benefit from doing business in Texas must comply with Texas laws,” said Attorney General Abbott. “Businesses will not tolerate vendors who disregard the law and falsely market their services. The Office of Attorney General will continue to crack down on scams that target Texas businesses.”

According to documents filed with the court, the Rabadis routinely solicited home builders, general contractors, architects and other professionals, who they encouraged to become exhibitors at their business expositions. Exhibitors frequently paid between $1,800 and $5,000 for booth space at the events, which the defendants falsely claimed would attract at least 3,000 attendees. Additionally, some exhibitors complained that their credit cards were double-charged.

At a Dallas expo organized by the Rabadis last December, fewer than 50 people attended during the two-day event. When disappointed exhibitors dismantled their booths early, the defendants assessed a $1,000 fine assessed against them.

Businesses that exposed the defendants’ practices complained about their misleading Web sites, which solicited their attendance but advertised the event inadequately. Thus, few members of the public actually attended. Other complainants noted that the “free seminars” they were promised with “continuing education credit” never materialized.

The Rabadis are liable for Texas franchise taxes and state fees that were not collected because they failed to obtain a required certificate from the Secretary of State.

The Texas Attorney General seeks restitution for harmed consumers, as well as up to $20,000 in penalties for each violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The Ramadis are also accused of violating the Business Corporation Act, which regulates out-of-state businesses operating in Texas. Penalties for violating this law can range from $100 to $5,000 for each month the Rabadis operated without the proper state-issued certificate.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Attorney General Abbott Joins National School Safety Task Force

Task force will work with educators, local law enforcement to examine school safety protocols

AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and several state attorneys general today launched a coordinated effort to improve school safety. The Task Force on School Safety will examine how states can ensure their children have safe learning environments.

“Children are the future of our great state,” Attorney General Abbott said. “Texas must ensure that its children attend safe, secure schools. The Office of the Attorney General is committed to working with educators, local law enforcement and school safety experts to ensure that our children are free from fear and violence.”

The task force will identify innovative programs, policies, and legislative initiatives that would improve school safety. The attorneys general will cultivate relationships and seek input from educators, law enforcement, and public and private educational advocacy groups across the nation.

“There are a number of critical areas this task force must address, including examining strategies for improving inter-agency communication and training to strengthen response by law enforcement to crisis situations that occur in the educational environment,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch, a co-chairman of the task force. “Attorneys general are well-equipped to assist local law enforcement authorities and make recommendations on where our jurisdictions stand in terms of crisis preparedness.”

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has made protecting children a top priority of his administration. In 2003, he created the Cyber Crimes Unit, which protects children from online sexual exploitation. Cyber Crimes Unit investigators have traveled to schools and communities across the state to offer educational cyber safety programs. The Cyber Crimes Unit, a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force of Texas, and the Fugitive Unit, which locates sex offenders who have violated the terms of their parole and could be stalking children, have combined to arrest more than 500 sex offenders.

In addition to protecting children from sex predators, Attorney General Abbott has overseen the collection of more than $7 billion in child support for Texas families. In 2006 alone, the Child Support Division handled nearly one million cases and collected $2 billion.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Court Halts Sale of Cocaine Drink in Texas

Attorney General gets agreed temporary injunction against Redux Beverages

DALLAS – A Dallas County District Court has issued a temporary injunction halting a Nevada company and its Texas distributors from selling its “Cocaine” energy drink in Texas. The agreed injunction, which was sought by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, prohibits Redux Beverages and its distributors, from marketing, warehousing and distributing the drink, a product the court deems may be an unapproved drug.

“Texans have zero tolerance for those who peddle products meant to mimic illegal drugs,” said Attorney General Abbott. “This advertising campaign enticed young people with illegal drug references and false claims of health benefits. The Office of Attorney General will continue to aggressively enforce this state’s consumer protection laws to ensure that Texans will not be deceived by the marketing of unapproved drugs.”

Attorney General Abbott filed legal action on May 2 to stop the sale of the “Cocaine” drink after learning of the company’s plans to sell the drink in Texas. The court issued a temporary restraining order at the time. The newly issued temporary injunction continues the ban until the court holds a trial in the case, which is set for Nov. 5.

The case was referred to the Office of Attorney General by the Texas Department of State Health Services, which detained more than 7,000 cases of the drink, valued at almost $200,000, at several warehouse locations in the Dallas area.

Redux Beverages has touted the canned drink as “speed in a can” and “liquid cocaine,” with “warnings” that consumers who drink the product may succumb to “excess excitement, stamina, fun and possible feelings of euphoria.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned Redux that because the company markets Cocaine as an alternative to street drugs, including claims that it mimics the effects of recreational drugs, the company could not promote the product as a dietary supplement. Furthermore, the FDA considers street drug alternatives to be unapproved new drugs that are prohibited in Texas and elsewhere.

According to the Attorney General’s filing, the company’s claims that users can get high and feel euphoric make the product a drug, yet the FDA has not approved it for use as a drug. Without scientific proof as required by the FDA, the company also makes health claims that Cocaine lowers cholesterol, prevents hardening of the arteries, protects nerve fibers from glucose damage, and may be used in the treatment of depression or anxiety.

The Attorney General brings this action under the Texas Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act and the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which allow for penalties, respectively, of up to $25,000 and $20,000 per violation.

SAISD Awards

Santa Anna ISD will hold its annual Awards Assembly on Thursday, May 17, at 1:00 P.M. in the school auditorium. Students from grades 7-11 will receive recognition for participation and achievement in various activities as well as for their accomplishments in UIL events and academic classes. The public is invited to attend.

Santa Anna Hosts World Championship Bison Cookoff and Funtier Days

Treat yourself to the delicious taste of the meat that marked the Old West and experience some of the exciting history of the Heart of Texas.

On May 18 and 19, the Funtier Days World championship Bison Cookoff will bring the best cookers from all over the Lone Star State to Santa Anna, Texas to test their reputations and recipes on beef brisket, chicken, pork ribs, and buffalo.

While the best cooks in the state rub their briskets with secret recipes, you can rub elbows with history under the long shadows of Santa Anna’s Peaks, named for the great Comanche war chief whose warriors trained beneath the twin mesas.

The twin peaks of this little town in the heart of the Texas Forts Trail served as visual guides for the migrating Comanches and the Texas Rangers who trailed them through the “short-grass country.”

Celebrating this special history, the first Bison cook-off was created by the Santa Anna Historical Development Organization in 1994, and hosted 18 cookers and has now grown to almost 50 cookers. Sanctioned by West Texas Barbecue Association and International Barbecue Cookers Association, points earned at this contest will count toward the Nationals and the Jack Daniels cook-offs because it has been declared the official State Bison Cook-off by the Texas Legislature. The Texas Bison Association will hold its spring meeting in conjunction with the event overseeing the judging of the bison meat, encouraging cookers to prepare it as a distinctive specialty rather than just another beef brisket.

Arts and crafts, entertainment, games, rides, homemade ice cream freeze-off, Mariachis, Ballet Folklorico, and of course, buffalo all combine to make a day of family fun. All events are fully accessible.

SENATE MOVING LEGISLATION AS SESSION WANES

Sens. Robert Duncan (left) and Jeff Wentworth look over a proposed amendment during Tuesday's session.

(AUSTIN) -- With only 13 days left in the 80th Legislative Session, lawmakers are working around the clock to pass bills before the gavel closes out the session until 2009. Tuesday, the Senate approved 25 bills in regular session, and more than 100 in the Local and Uncontested Calendar. Many of the bills moving in the Legislature aren't highlighted in the media, but can still have a big impact on the lives of average Texans.

One such bill is HB3564, sponsored by Lubbock Senator Robert Duncan, which would place Angelo State University into the Texas Tech University System. Angelo State currently is under the governance of the Texas State University System Board of Regents, but Duncan says it could be better served by being part of the Texas Tech System, with access to its research facilities and law school.

Other bills passed by the Senate Tuesday include:

• HB 75, sponsored by Wentworth, provides for judicial review of Health and Human Services cases where food stamps or Medicaid benefits are denied;
• HB 2455, sponsored by Seliger, adds court appearances to the list of allowed excused absences for school attendance;
• HB 167, sponsored by Hinojosa, would prohibit the seizure of a Bible or other religious text to settle bankruptcy claims and;
• SJR 57, by Williams, would permit the Higher Education Coordinating Board to increase bond issuance from $400 million to $500 million for certain scholarship programs.

The Senate will reconvene Wednesday, May 16, at 11 a.m.

Session video and all other webcast recordings can be accessed from the Senate website's audio and video archive pages.

Contact: Benji Henderson, 325-884-2335, brhenderson@ag.tamu.edu

May 15, 2007
BIG LAKE – Texas Cooperative Extension plans to showcase the latest trends affecting the deer hunting industry with its White-tailed Deer Appreciation Day. The event is set for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 22 on the Rocker B Ranch.

To reach the ranch, travel 12 miles on State Highway 163 north from Barnhart to the intersection of Farm to Market Road 2496; turn left on County Road 401 (a caliche road) for 3 miles to the ranch entrance. Continue on for 2 miles, then turn left and go to the headquarters.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available (two general and one integrated pest management).

The program is being sponsored by the Extension offices in Reagan, Upton and Glasscock counties.

Make reservations by May 15 to the Extension office in Reagan County at 325-884-2335. A complementary lunch will be provided.

May 15, 2007
DALLAS – Tiny beetles have been ravaging North Texas elm trees this spring, said experts with Texas Cooperative Extension.

Requests for information about the elm flea weevil have poured in from five counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, said Dr. Mike Merchant, an Extension entomologist in Dallas.

The beetles seem to be feasting on leaves of all types of elms in the region, Merchant said. The insects appeared early this season and have been spreading quickly.

When they are done with a leaf, the beetles leave little more than a skeleton, he said.

Though small – about one-fourth the size of a grain of rice – the beetles are hard to miss, he said. Their numbers are so large in some areas, they fall out of trees onto lawns, sidewalks and people. The beetle would appear as a black speck on the tip of a finger. It’s long snout can be seen under a magnifying glass.

“It’s not hard to tell that they’re there,” he said.

But fortunately the pests are easy to kill, Merchant said. The insecticides acephate, Malathion and permethrin should work well.

The biggest challenge would be applying the insecticide to tall trees, he said. Some homeowners may need to hire a pest control professional.

Elm flea weevils will harm only elms, Merchant said, so it won’t be necessary to spray other types of trees.

Most elms will recover well, he said. But some that have been stressed by a lingering drought might struggle.

Records at Texas A&M University entomology department’s insect collection suggest a second generation of the beetles could appear in August, Merchant said.

Entomologists don’t know much about elm flea weevils, he said. But they know the insects aren’t normally a big pest.

Recent rain in the area may have helped the beetles flourish, Merchant said.

“Rain is a good trigger for outbreaks like this,” he said. “There’s lots of vegetation out there. That means lots of food.”

Although a problem for property owners, this year’s outbreak is an opportunity for entomologists, Merchant said.

“You can learn from these outbreak years,” he said. “They help us make predictions and recommendations in the future.”

CSHB 1481 BY CASTRO PRESERVES FAMILY RIGHTS WHEN PLACING CHILDREN

Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Austin - CSHB 1481 by State Representative Joaquin Castro (San Antonio) was voted favorably out of the House and awaits committee referral in the Senate.

Currently when parental rights are terminated by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) the relationship between that child and that parent's relatives is terminated as well. That includes that family's right to file suit. CSHB 1481 grants the right to file suit for custody of a child to the child's relatives within 90 days of the termination of parental rights.

Rep. Castro commented, "When a parent is in the process of losing parental rights, the circumstances are typically chaotic. Often the child has been abandoned or the parent has been found unfit as a result of drug abuse or other personal problems. It's extremely common for relatives to be unaware of an impending termination."

CSHB 1841 will ensure that families retain the right and the opportunity to file suit for custody of their loved ones and help keep families together.

Rep. Castro continued, "Each of the children affected by this bill has been through a traumatic experience. If a relative can offer a safe and loving home environment it will provide continuity and familiarity during a painful transition. If circumstances permit, we should always seek to keep families together."

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Bastrop County Officials Indicted for Diverting Taxpayer Resources for Personal Use

Commissioner, sheriff charged with using county inmate labor, funds for personal projects

BASTROP – A grand jury today returned public corruption indictments against Bastrop County Sheriff Richard Hernandez and Bastrop County Commissioner David A. Goertz. Prosecutors with the office of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott sought the indictments after a state investigation revealed the two officials were diverting county resources for their personal benefit.

Hernandez, 51, and Goertz, 51, were each charged with one count of abuse of official capacity for illegally misusing taxpayer resources, including county equipment, materials, inmate labor, facilities, and credit accounts.

“Texans will not tolerate government officials who violate the public trust,” Attorney General Abbott said. “Any public servants who choose to unlawfully enrich themselves at the taxpayers’ expense must be held accountable for violating the law. The citizens of Bastrop County can rest assured that the Office of Attorney General is aggressively prosecuting these officials for abusing their positions.”

According to court documents filed by the Attorney General, Goertz used county inmate labor to perform electrical wiring and several other work projects at his home. These documents indicate that inmates also constructed a steel railing and two barbecue pits that were later installed at the county commissioner’s private residence. The Attorney General’s investigation also revealed that Goertz approved overtime pay for a county employee who supervised inmates while they worked on these non-county projects. State investigators conducted a search of Goertz’s residence on Tuesday.

Hernandez is charged with using county materials, taxpayer resources, and inmate labor to construct barbecue pits that he later sold for personal profit. According to state investigators, Bastrop County resources were used to build and improve a mobile barbecue trailer that the sheriff later sold for his personal benefit. Hernandez required the buyer to pay him with cash. State investigators conducted a search of the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday.

Following the indictments, arrest warrants for Hernandez and Goertz were issued, and those warrants are being served by law enforcement officers with the Office of the Attorney General.

CAR BURGLARY BILL SENT TO GOVERNOR

Tuesday, May 15, 2007
May 15, 2007 (AUSTIN, TX) -- The Texas Senate today unanimously passed state Representative Vicki Truitt's (Keller) HB 1887 which enhances penalties for the crime of burglary of motor vehicles (BMV) and provides funding for prevention of the crime. Auto burglaries have been occurring at alarming frequency in Texas for years.

"I am thrilled the Senate has overwhelmingly approved HB 1887. Finally! The third time was a charm. I first filed a bill to increase the penalties for this crime in 2003 during the 78th Session of the Texas Legislature. During the 79th Legislature, I introduced and the House of Representatives passed HB 151 with over 100 votes in favor. That bill would have made BMV a state jail felony on the second offense. Unfortunately, HB 151 that bill did not receive the Senate's support in 2005," said Truitt.

Today, BMV is a Class A misdemeanor. The increased frequency of this crime in Texas can be traced back to the early 1990s when the penalty for it was reduced from a felony to a Class A misdemeanor. Texans experience over $200 million annually in reported property losses due to this crime. It is believed the unreported losses would make that number much higher.

"This session Senator Whitmire (Houston) and I worked together to accomplish what we believe will take a significant step in the direction of reining in the incidents of this crime. These criminals must know that they will be punished. This bill will enable us to see to it," said Truitt.

HB 1887 leaves the first and second offense for BMV a Class A misdemeanor, but requires a minimum of six months in county jail for the second offense. A third offense will be a state jail felony. Additionally, HB 1887 expands the scope of the successful Automobile Theft Authority to begin to fight BMVs. "With enhanced penalties and additional emphasis on prevention, we believe we can begin to turn back the tide on BMVs," said Truitt. "It's about time," she added.

HB 1887 has now been sent to Governor Perry, and he is expected to sign the legislation. The law will go into effect on September 1, 2007.

Rep. Vicki Truitt is a fifth term legislator from Tarrant County representing Grapevine, Colleyville, Southlake, Keller, Westlake, and parts of Trophy Club and Fort Worth. She is Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions and Investments, Vice-Chairman of the Sunset Advisory Commission, and a member of the House Committee on Public Health.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Former Waller County Nursing Home Office Manager Pleads Guilty to Stealing Funds From Residents

Gabriela Aguilar sentenced to jail, ordered to repay over $32,000

HEMPSTEAD – The former office manager of the Waller County Brookshire Nursing Center pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the facility’s residents. An investigation by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that Gabriela Ortiz Aguilar, 27, of Houston, stole more than $32,000 from several patients’ trust accounts.

Beginning in August 2003, Aguilar began depositing stolen funds into her personal bank accounts. She will serve 60 days in jail and be placed under supervised probation for 10 years. Aguilar must also perform 240 hours of community service and attend a special course about crime’s impact on society.

Media links

Gabriela Aguilar

“Texans will never tolerate criminals who exploit senior citizens,” Attorney General Abbott said. “Nursing home employees are obligated to care for their patients, not steal from them. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will continue aggressively protecting Texas seniors.”

Following Aguilar’s April 2006 arrest, Medicaid Fraud investigators discovered evidence of further criminal conduct. Aguilar also diverted money from residents’ trust fund accounts at Houston’s Briarwood Health Care Center. Aguilar was subsequently indicted for stealing an additional $4,000 from those accounts. She will appear in a Harris County District Court on May 14 to face those charges.

In the Brookshire Nursing Center case, the center’s regional account manager conducted an internal audit and found that Aguilar wrote 33 unauthorized checks from the combined trust fund pool to her personal accounts. The account manager then alerted the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, which subsequently referred the case to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for criminal investigation.

Residents’ family members may elect to have Medicaid funds or deposits from relatives held in nursing home “trust fund” accounts. Nursing home officials – in this case, Aguilar – are entrusted with managing these accounts, including cash distributions requested by the residents or their relatives. Trust accounts may be audited by the state at any time.

State Champion

Kendra Coleman won the Class 1-A 100 Meter Dash Friday at the State Track Meet in Austin with a time of 12.44. It must have been a close race as second place had the same time and third place was one one-hundredth behind, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Kendra is a Sophmore at Santa Anna High School and this is her second time to the State Meet.

Way To Go Kendra!

Santa Anna Sports Banquet

The Santa Anna Sports Banquet will be Tuesday May 15 at 6:30 in the newly renovated cafeteria. The meal will be all you can eat fish and chicken catered by Lemmon's BBQ for $10.00. All Athletes will be recognized and Coaches will be handing out special awards. Everyone is invited out to show their support one last time for the 2006-2007 Mountaineers.

	020315-N-4768W-294 At sea aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Mar. 15, 2002 -- Vice President Dick Cheney speaks to the crew in the ship’s hangar bay while meeting with coalition forces in the region. John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) are conducting combat missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Joshua Word. (RELEASED)
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Vice President Visits USS John C. Stennis

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark Logico, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- Vice President Dick Cheney visited the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) while underway in the Persian Gulf to meet with more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines on May 11.

Cheney's visit to Stennis came during his visit to the Middle east in which he met with leaders of several nations and with U.S. troops and their commanders in the Persian Gulf region. He came aboard Stennis to personally acknowledge contributions to ongoing operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and maritime security operations (MSO) in the region.

“Throughout the region, our country has a mission to protect and a commitment to honor,” said Cheney. “America is a nation that keeps its promises and for that we send the United Sates military.”

The vice president also noted that the sacrifices of other American Sailors in the U.S. 5th Fleet are making the world a safer and better place for future generations.

“I’ve never been so proud of the United States Navy,” said Cheney. “It’s an incredibly challenging time for the country. You’re doing all that we ask of you, and you’re doing it with skill and with honor. I’m here to say 'thank you.'”

This visit by Cheney marked his second trip to Stennis in five years during his tenure as vice president. In early 2002, Cheney came aboard Stennis to recognize the ship’s efforts that marked the beginning of the U.S. Navy’s ongoing support for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Stennis Commanding Officer Capt. Brad Johanson, expressed what Cheney’s visit meant to the Sailors and Marines aboard the ship.

“It is a distinct honor to host the vice president of the United States of America on board Stennis,” said Johanson. “His visit today sends a clear message how essential our mission is to ensuring our nation’s security and the president’s vision for global stability. The vice president’s visit in the Gulf to Stennis reaffirms our nation’s leadership is committed to our mission, our service, and our Sailors and Marines.”

Sailors and Marines appreciated the visit from the vice president.

“It’s a morale booster for the crew and an honor to have the vice president on board our ship,” said Personnelman Seaman Chris Rasco, from Supply Department. “It shows that our actions here in the area are being noticed.”

Stennis and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 reached the halfway point in the strike group’s deployment, May 10.

“There is a sense of accomplishment,” said Rasco. “There is no better way to show how much we have done than to have the vice president come out here. It shows us that what we are doing definitely has an impact.”

Stennis and its strike group entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations Feb. 19 to conduct tactical air combat strikes in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as to conduct MSO in regional waters.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.

Note: Santa Anna's James Culpepper is aboard the Stennis.. Please pray for James and his safe return to his family.

	070505-N-3038W-180 ARABIAN SEA (May 5, 2007) - An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned the "Argonauts" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, takes off from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Wagner (RELEASED)
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Stennis Carrier Strike Group Reaches Halfway Point

By Lt. Nathan Christensen, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 reached the halfway point of their deployment May 10.

The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSSG) entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO) Feb. 19 to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) in regional waters, as well as to provide support for ground forces operating in Afghanistan working alongside coalition partners, including a French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its strike group.

“Our primary task so far has been to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and coalition forces operating on the ground in Afghanistan,” said Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn, Commander Carrier Strike Group 3. “Reports from ground forces in combat say our aircraft are providing the support they need and are making a real difference in the fight against the Taliban. Not only are we helping our troops on the ground and saving lives, but we’re helping the Afghan people.”

Stennis Commanding Officer Bradley Johanson said the crew has met every operational commitment assigned and maintained a level of operational readiness second to none.

"The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is successful because of the devotion to service of every member of the multinational team. Our support to the troops on the ground has made a decisive difference in the region,” he said.

To date, CVW-9 has flown 5,671 sorties and has put in more than 14,800 flight hours. Since arriving in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOO, CVW-9 has flown 6,939 hours and has dropped more than 56,000 pounds of ordnance in support of coalition forces operating on the ground in Afghanistan.

Along with supporting OEF and ISAF, another mission JCSSG ships are conducting in 5th Fleet is MSO. Operating as part of the JCSSG, USS O’Kane (DDG 77) and USS Preble (DDG 88) have been primarily conducting MSO in the Persian Gulf since arriving in the region.

Interaction patrols are one element of MSO which focus on putting a friendly face on the coalition’s mission in the region. These visits to local mariners help to deter illegal activities on the high seas, as well as reassure them that coalition forces are operating in the region to ensure the sea-lanes remain open and are safe to navigate.

“The purpose of these operations is to connect with local mariners through the exchange of information in order to develop relationships and help them understand we’re here to help ensure maritime security and stability in this region,” said Quinn.

MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

A highlight of JCSSG operations thus far in 5th Fleet, was Stennis’ interaction with the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle (R 91).

Upon Charles de Gaulle’s arrival to the region March 16, the two ships provided support to the ISAF on the ground in Afghanistan, and conducted bilateral exercises at sea and personnel exchanges between the strike group ships.

“I was incredibly impressed by the professionalism, dedication and level of cooperation experienced during our interaction with the entire French Task Force,” said Johanson. “They are our teammates and we were honored to have served with them here in the North Arabian Sea.”

Since leaving its homeport of Bremerton, Wash., on Jan. 16, Stennis has spent 104 days underway conducting operations and exercises in both the 5th and 7th Fleet AOOs.

For ships to remain at sea for extended periods of time, logistical support is absolutely essential. Replenishments At Sea (RAS), commonly referred to as Underway Replenishment (UNREP), is the logistical bridge required for the aircraft carrier to stay on-station indefinitely, said Cmdr. Andy Mueck, Stennis’ supply officer.

“Logistics support is the key to any type of sustained operation,” said Mueck. “Without the reliable means to replenish bullets, food, fuel and general supplies, your efforts are destined to fail.”

In the past four months while at sea, ship’s personnel have consumed 18,962 gallons of milk, 434,760 eggs, 17,040 pounds of flour, 18,599 pounds of ground beef, 36,155 pounds of chicken and 159,960 cups of cereal.

So far, during Stennis’ deployment, the ship has completed 12 UNREPs, bringing on everything from food to repair parts and jet fuel. More than 8.6 million gallons of fuel have been received via UNREP, 7.5 million gallons of which have been issued to aircraft to conduct flight operations.

UNREPs are also a chance for large shipments of mail to be delivered to the ship which helps keep morale high. According to Chief Postal Clerk Orlando Hernandez, Stennis has processed in excess of 350,000 pounds of incoming and outgoing mail this deployment.

“Our largest shipment of mail to date was Feb. 24, just after arriving in the region,” said Hernandez. “We received 194 pallets of mail, weighing 48,000 pounds, and it took us six days to process to the crew.”

While UNREPs help keep ships supplied at sea, it’s the Sailors themselves who keep the ship running and ensure JCSSG successfully completes its assigned missions.

“I think we’re making a huge difference here, especially for the troops on the ground,” said Fire Controlman 1st Class Bret Levinton. “We're maintaining zero casualties in our communication and weapon systems; we’re launching planes every day; and our tactical operating system is always ready. We’re able to do this, all while interacting with the rest of our strike group ships and coalition navies. It's impressive to think of all of the teamwork that's involved in this, and how it goes off without a hitch every day.”

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Attorney General Abbott Charges Manufacturer With Violating Environmental Laws

Conner Steel Products of San Angelo cited for waste management, air emissions violations

AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott charged Conner Steel Products with violating state environmental protection laws. According to the state’s enforcement action, the San Angelo-based steel and fiberglass tank manufacturer failed to comply with air quality and solid waste management regulations.

“Texas will vigorously enforce environmental laws that protect the health and safety of its citizens,” said Attorney General Abbott. “Despite inspections and compliance agreements with state regulators, this manufacturer failed to comply with the law. The Office of Attorney General is committed to strictly enforcing environmental protections that preserve the quality of air, water and natural resources for future generations.”

A temporary injunction hearing in the case has been set for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12, in Travis County District Court.

In both 2004 and 2005, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Conner entered into agreed orders requiring the manufacturer to comply with environmental regulations for solid waste management, storm water runoff and air emissions.

Despite the orders, recent follow-up inspections by TCEQ investigators revealed additional waste management and air emission violations, including storing waste in open 55-gallon containers that were accessible to children; conducting sandblasting operations without the required TCEQ registration or site approval; burning waste in outdoor barrels; improperly disposing of welding residue; and releasing harmful styrene emissions to the air from a fiberglass fabrication unit. According to the TCEQ inspection report, fiberglass fabrication manufacturing emissions caused the air in a nearby neighborhood to exceed the regulatory limitations for styrene, a hazardous chemical.

Conner also unlawfully stored paint waste, liquid acetone and styrene resin in containers bound for a municipal landfill that is not permitted to accept those chemicals. The manufacturer also improperly disposed of welding residue, among many other violations.

The state seeks up to $25,000 per violation per day, as well as injunctions halting all unauthorized waste discharges and air emissions, and requiring Conner to bring the facility into full compliance with the law. The enforcement case also demands that Conner Steel provide a full accounting of all wastes via a classification system, as required by law.

May. 14, 2007

Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Senate passage of SB 792:

“I commend senators for working swiftly to address transportation concerns I share with many local leaders. This is a good compromise that allows projects important to local communities to go forward, recognizing that Texas is a fast-growing state with real congestion concerns that cannot be put on hold. With less than two weeks remaining, I believe lawmakers are capable of sending me a transportation bill that doesn’t hinder the state’s ability to build needed roads, allows Texas to continue to receive federal highway dollars and ensures that transportation decisions with a statewide impact are made at the statewide level.”

Monday, May 14, 2007

Attorney General Abbott Obtains Refunds For Auto Credit Insurance Purchasers

Enterprise Life Insurance Co. to return almost $5 million to affected Texas consumers

AUSTIN – Attorney General Greg Abbott has reached a settlement with Enterprise Life Insurance Co. that protects credit insurance purchasers. The $4.9 million agreement provides an average of $230 in unearned credit insurance premiums to more than 21,000 Texas vehicle owners.

“Vendors who benefit from doing business in Texas must comply with Texas law,” Attorney General Abbott said. “Today’s settlement ensures that affected credit insurance purchasers receive the refunds they deserve. We applaud Enterprise for cooperating with our investigation and working quickly to resolve this matter.”

Policies sold by Enterprise covered payments owed to automobile lenders in the event the borrower died or became disabled. Enterprise customers bought single-premium policies in a lump sum through dealerships at the time they purchased their vehicles. The full cost of the credit insurance policy was bundled into the buyer’s vehicle loan. The coverage period lasted through the term of the vehicle loan, in some cases as long as six years.

Under the Texas Insurance Code, Enterprise was obligated to refund the unearned portion of the insurance premium to those customers who paid off their loans ahead of schedule. Enterprise, however, retained the unearned premiums.

The Attorney General took similar legal action against eight credit insurance companies and those investigations are ongoing. Enterprise Life is the first company to settle with the Attorney General and offer refunds to eligible customers.

Gov. Perry Addresses More Than 1,000 New Citizens in Austin’s Largest Naturalization Ceremony in History

May. 11, 2007

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today delivered the keynote address to more than 1,000 new American citizens at the largest naturalization ceremony in Austin’s history. Hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge Lee Yeakel, a total of 1,023 Austin and Waco area residents representing 85 countries took the Oath of Allegiance to become citizens.

“Today marks the culmination of a great journey for more than one thousand new American citizens,” said Gov. Perry. “I am proud to call these individuals my fellow countrymen. From this day on, we will live, work and fight for one another, as one nation under God.”

The ceremony featured performances by the Stephen F. Austin High School Chamber Orchestra of America the Beautiful and God Bless America. The orchestra’s teacher and conductor Ana Maria Solis-Herrera, a native of Mexico who immigrated to the United States in 2003, became a U.S. citizen during the ceremony. Following the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, the crowd of more than 1,600 placed their hands over their hearts to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

“You are now part of a nation which cherishes liberty and equality above all things,” Perry said. “We are a nation founded by immigrants. And a nation proud to be Americans.”

Last year, more than 700,000 new Americans were sworn in as U.S. citizens in ceremonies around the nation. Since September 11, 2001, USCIS has naturalized more than 26,000 members of the United States military. Today, more than 1,093,000 Texans are naturalized citizens.

4-H Updates

May 11, 2007
By: Debbie Hailey, CEA-FCS

4-H ROUNDUP HONORS DISTRICT WINNERS

Texas Cooperative Extension*s annual District 7 4-H Roundup was held Saturday, May 5th on the Angelo State University campus in San Angelo. The event attracted more than 500 members, parents and adult leaders and Extension personnel from across the district*s 23 county area. Roundup sponsors include: Federal Land Bank Associations within District 7 and AEP-Texas.

Winners from Coleman County were:
Educational Presentations
Mackenzie Spake & Lisha Merkley, 2nd place - Health Carlie Shirk, 5th place - Open Division

Senior Fashion Show
Audrey Casselberry, 3rd place - Formal Division

Share The Fun
Denny Fulbright, 3rd place - Vocal Division

Senior 4-Hers who qualify and will attend State 4-H Roundup include: Consumer Decision Team: Casie Swening, Rebecca Baker, Angelina Jones and Sarah Hailey, and Educational Presentation Team made up of Mackenzie Spake and Lisha Merkley.

Congratulations to these individuals and to all who have participated . GOOD LUCK to the Senior teams as they compete at State 4-H Roundup in June.

Multi-County Camp
June 27-29 Brady, TX
Mark your calendar for this fun event ! More details coming soon !!!

District Record Book Judging
July 17, 2007
If you are planning on submitting a 4-H Record Book, please let us know what category and age division your book needs to be entered in. Completed record books should be turned in to the Extension office on or before July 9th .

District 4-H Horse Show
Entries DUE to the Coleman Co. Extension Office by May 16

Entries for the District 7 4-H Horse Show are due in the Coleman County Extension Office no later than 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2007 . Our entries must reach the District Extension Office by Friday, May 18th - Absolutely NO Late Entries Will Be Accepted !

The District 7 4-H Horse Show will be held on Monday, June 11, 2007 in the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater beginning at 8:00 a.m. State entries are also due on the date of the District Horse Show.

Entry Fees:
Regular Qualifying Show $25.00
*NEW THIS YEAR - There is no limit on the number of classes you can enter.

Invitational Events $7.50 per event

Roping Events : $5.00 per event / $5.00 one time cattle charge.

Stall Fee: If you use a stall for any length of time, you must pay a $12.00 stall fee.

Important Notes:
* The top of your district / state entry forms MUST BE TYPED.

* 2007 Texas Animal Health Commission regulations state that all horses must have a negative E.I.A. documentation (Coggins or other approved test) within 12 months of show date. This includes both the District 7 4-H Horse Show and the State 4-H Horse Show.

* The 2007 State 4-H Horse Show Rules are available at: http://animalscience.tamu.edu/main/academics/equine/state_show/2007-rulebook.pdf

There are copies of the State Horse Show Rules at the Extension Office if you would like to have one.

If you have any questions, please contact the Coleman County Extension office at 625-4519.

The State 4-H Horse Show will take place the week of July 22-29 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.

Summer Fashion Fun
Sewing Class for Junior Fashion Show-including Juniors and Intermediates
May 29 - June 1, 2007 Tuesday - Friday
9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Coleman High School - Homemaking Lab

Brown Bag Lunch Tuesday - Thursday, Bring $3.00 for Pizza on Friday
Clothing Projects may include:
1. Construction or Buying
2. Non apparel Items
3. Fabric & Fashion Design
4. Service Project
5. Natural Fiber contest

Tentative Schedule
Tuesday - Machine orientation, Pattern alterations, Fabric layout
Wednesday - Read & Follow Pattern Instructions, Finish Layout, Begin to sew
Thursday - Review Score Sheet & Interview Questions, Sew
Friday - Finish Garments, Modeling, Practice Fashion Show

We will also plan a day in May to shop for fabric and patterns, and another day in June for a Buying Clinic. Please contact Debbie Hailey As Soon As Possible at 325-625-4519 or e-mail drhailey@ag.tamu.edu, if you are interested in participating in buying or sewing. ADULTS - If you are interested in helping, let us know.

WEST REGION 4-H JUNIOR HIGH LEADERSHIP LAB

June 14-16, 2007 - Texas 4-H Center

This lab is open to Intermediate 4-H age members who will be in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in the Fall of 2007. Cost per participant is $130.00. Registration will be taken via the 4-H Connect program and will open April 23, 2007 and close May 11, 2007. Late registrations will be taken for a period of 5 days (May 12-16) with an additional charge of $15.

4-Hers will learn about Leadership & Character Building Activities, College Preparation, Team Building Games and other 4-H Opportunities . Recreational activities include volleyball, ping pong, softball, tennis, basketball, swimming and a variety of other games. The theme for this event is *4-H Treasure Hunt* !

For more information about this event, come by the County Extension Office and get a copy of the Schedule of Events. Minor*s Release & Health History forms must be turned in to the District 10 office by May 15th. Please have your health release forms turned in to the Coleman Extension Office by Monday, May 14th.

4-H LEADERSHIP LAB / DISTRICT OFFICER ELECTIONS
June 28-30, 2007 at the Texas 4-H Center
Registration via 4-H Connect Open May 14 through June 1 Office Applications due to the District Office by June 1
All other forms (Minors Release & Health History) due to District Office by June 15

District Leadership Lab will be held at the Texas 4-H Center in Brownwood on June 28-30 (Thursday through Saturday). Districts 7 and 10 will partner with us for lab and will participate together in the same activities. The cost will be $150.00 per delegate. (This includes all meals beginning with dinner on Thursday and ending with lunch on Saturday, insurance, activity fees, lodging and facility use fee.) All participants must be at least 13 years of age by the date of Leadership Lab. All other forms are due in the County Extension Office by June 12th so I can . Workshops will feature leadership development in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, decision-making, and much more! Get your skills honed while having fun as we work together to *Make The Best Better!*

REGISTRATION / 4-H CONNECT
Registration begins on the 4-H Connect program beginning May 14 and ending June 1, 2007. You can locate the 4-H Connect on the Texas 4-H web page at http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/ click on the 4-H Connect emblem on the right side of the screen and enter your information.

OFFICER ELECTIONS - One of the major events of lab will be the election of officers for the District 7 4-H Council. If you are interested in running for a District Council office, you must fill out an application. Officer Applications are due in TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE by June 1st. Turn your forms in to the County Extension Office by May 30th. Additional details about this camp are at the County Extension Office.

4-H Dog Dip
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Courthouse Lawn
9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

One Stop - Get *R Done ! .... Dog Vaccinations/Flea & Tick Control/ Spay/Neuter Program

The Coleman 4-H Council will host a small animal / rabies clinic and dog dip on Saturday, June 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the East side of the Courthouse Lawn.

Dr. Mark Swening will be on hand for all your small animal vaccination needs. Cost for rabies vaccinations will be $13.00 with $3.00 from each shot going to 4-H. All vaccinations will be available and may be purchased during the clinic.

**** 4-H members we need you as volunteers for the dog dip****** for control of flees and ticks. Johnson Feed Barn has furnished supplies for the dog dip and 4-H will be accepting donations for the service. Proceeds will benefit the Coleman 4-H Council.

The Coleman County Humane Society will be present to offer free spay / neuter to the FIRST 40 DOGS OVER 40 POUNDS program.

For more information, please call the County Extension Office at 325-625-4519.

Callahan Co. Fun Shoot - Saturday, June 16, 2007

The twelfth annual Callahan County Fun Shoot will take place at the Callahan County Shooting Range on June 16, 2007. The goals of the coordinators of the Callahan County Fun Shoot are safety first, fun and the promotion of 4-H Shooting Sports.

Event Date: Saturday, June 16, 2007
Entry Deadline: June 1st ,2007 ( $10 late fee after June 2nd)

Registration: Pre-Registration is required. * Notification of cancellations or substitutions must be made by June 1, 2007. Registration Fee: $25 (this includes 3 events. Additional event fee is $10 with a limit of 4 total events per shooter. (No cross discipline shooting allowed. )

Round fees for shotgun events -
Paid day of shoot
$5.00 / round for American Trap & Skeet
$15.00 for 50 Whiz Bang targets

Eleven events will be offered: Smallbore Rifle Silhouette, Smallbore Hunter Pistol Silhouette, Light Rifle, 3-Position Rifle, Air Pistol Silhouette, 10 meter Air Pistol, Blackpowder Rifle Silhouette, Blackpowder Rifle Bowling Pin & Charcoal Briquets Match, American Skeet, American Trap and Whiz Bang. At the rifle range there will be an Open Event (adult / youth) *Free of Charge*. Sign up after you arrive.

Sign in will be from 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. June 16th with orientation at 8:30 a.m. and the match to start approximately at 9:00 a.m.

If you are interested in participating in this event, come by the County Extension Office and pick up a copy of the rules & regulations and event information.

District Livestock Judging Results
Eight 4-H members from Coleman County participated in the District 7 4-H Livestock Judging Contest on May 1, 2007 at Spur Arena in San Angelo.

Junior Team members consisted of:Jordan Washington, Jon Bopp, Zayne Riggins, Drey Richards and Christian Washington. Senior Team members consisted of Anna Vail, Rebecca Baker and Gary Heath.
Results: Junior Team - 6th place Overall
Senior Team - 6th place Overall

Congratulations to these Livestock Judging Teams.

ICE CREAM SUPPER AT Coleman Co. Electric Coop Annual Mtg.
Friday, July 13, 2007

This year, Coleman county 4-H has been asked to host the refreshments at the Coleman County Electric Cooperative Annual meeting on Friday, July 13 at the Coleman ISD School Cafeteria. We will begin serving at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments which 4-Hers need to bring are *homemade ice cream and homemade cookies.

We also need 4-Hers to help serve at this event. 4-Hers.....this is a great community service activity. Please call the Extension Office at 625-4519 and sign up for what you would like to bring and if you are available that evening to help serve.

4-H Calendar

May
14 Panther Creek 4-H Club Meeting

16 District Horse Show Entries DUE

19 Santa Anna 4-H Fundraiser at Funtier Days

29 - June 1 SUMMER FASHION FUN !
Junior and Intermediate Clothing Project Workshops

June
1 Deadline to enter Callahan County Fun Shoot

1 Final day to Register for District Leadership Lab via 4-H Connect

District 4-H Council Officer Applications DUE to the District Office

2 Dog Dip, Courthouse Lawn

4-8 State 4-H Roundup

14-16 Junior High 4-H Leadership Lab

16 Callahan County Shoot

18 District 4-H Horse Show - Sweetwater

26-28 Multi-County Camp -Brady

28-30 District 4-H Leadership Lab

July
9 Record Books due to Co. Extension Office

13 Ice Cream Supper for Coleman Co. Electric Coop
(Serving begins at 5:30 p.m.) (4-Hers be there by 5:00 pm)

15-21 State Shooting Sports Games - San Antonio

17 District Record Book Judging

23 District Junior & Intermediate Fashion Show

If you have any questions about any of the 4-H events listed above or would like more information about the 4-H programs in Coleman County, please come by the Extension Office, 2nd floor, County Courthouse, or give us a call at 325-625-4519.

SENATE APPROVES TRANSPORTATION COMPROMISE

Senator John Carona, who chairs the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security, lends his support to a compromise transportation bill passed by the Senate today.

(AUSTIN) -- The Senate approved a bill Monday aimed at striking a balance between the views of the Legislature and the Governor's Office on how future transportation projects will be built and funded. A previously approved bill would have halted construction on nearly all privately funded toll roads for two years, and would have restricted the scope of future private toll projects. But Governor Perry threatened to not only veto the measure, but then call a special session on transportation if the Legislature didn't come up with a bill that Perry could support.

Monday's bill, SB 972, came out of exhaustive negotiations between the Legislature, the Governor, and other stakeholders, said the principal author, Senator Tommy Williams of The Woodlands. The bill lengthens the maximum term of a private toll project from 40 to 50 years, and includes new exemptions for other road projects around the state. County toll road authorities would get the right of first refusal on local projects, based on a market valuation of the future cost and revenue of a transportation project. The bill will now head to the House for further consideration.

Senator Tommy Williams of The Woodlands details the new provisions in today's transportation compromise bill.

Also Monday, the Senate passed a bill by Greenville Senator Robert Deuell that lengthens the review process that has to take place before a hospital can withdraw life sustaining treatment for a patient. Under current law, when a hospital decides to end life sustaining care, relatives or guardians of that patient have 10 days to find a new hospital that agrees to continue care for that patient. Deuell's bill would begin with a seven-day review period, including a hearing before an ethics committee attended by the family and their advocates, before that countdown starts. Following that, the family would have 21 days to find a new hospital, and if they cannot, there would be a 20 day judicial review process before care can be ended. The bill would also prohibit withdrawing food or water from a patient, even if ventilators, dialysis machines, and other life support systems are turned off.

The Senate will reconvene Tuesday, May 15, at 8 a.m. to consider the Local and Uncontested Calendar, and will meet in regular session at 11 a.m.

Session video and all other webcast recordings can be accessed from the Senate website's audio and video archive pages.

May 14, 2007

EL PASO –- A research program that uses DNA fingerprinting to determine the source of E. coli in Texas waterways won this year's Environmental Excellence Award in Agriculture. The program, which seeks ways to improve water quality, received the award from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

The research by Dr. George DiGiovanni and colleagues at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in El Paso found that wildlife fecal matter was the most likely source of the bacteria in surface waters they tested. Fecal matter from cattle was the second-most likely source of contamination, followed by that of humans.

"By pinpointing the sources of pollution, this research enables resource managers to develop effective pollution control strategies to ensure water is drinkable and safe for all users," said Dr. Ari Michelsen, El Paso Experiment Station resident director.

DiGiovanni collected water from Lake Waco, Belton Lake, the Upper and Lower San Antonio River, Salada Creek, Leon River and Peach Creek – all of which had shown high levels of E. coli bacteria associated with fecal pollution, the commission noted.

Working with DiGiovanni were Experiment Station researchers Dr. Elizabeth Casarez of El Paso, Dr. Suresh Pillai of College Station and Dr. Joanna Mott of Corpus Christi.

"As part of this program, the research team also created a genetic library of E. coli bacteria of more than 11,000 bacterial samples. This is the largest and most characterized collection in the state and is used for determining the sources of water contamination," Michelsen said. "Use of the library will save millions of dollars on future fecal pollution source tracking projects."

Information about the research program can be found at http://elpaso.tamu.edu/Research/award.htm.

The state environmental quality agency started the awards program in 1993 to honor those who've contributed towards protecting the environment, in various categories, and to encourage others to do likewise, according to the commission. Awards are announced each spring.

More information about the awards, and a list of other category winners for 2007, can be found at http://teea.org.

May 14, 2007

WEEK IN REVIEW: SENATE ADDRESSES TEXAS SOUTHERN ISSUES

(From left) Richard Salwen, Glenn Lewis, and Javier Loya answer questions before the Senate Committee on Nominations Friday. They were confirmed by the whole Senate later that day as Regents for Texas Southern University.

(AUSTIN) -- The Senate has approved five new regents for Houston's Texas Southern University, in an effort to put that school's administration back on track. Last week, the nine-member board of regents resigned from their position amid allegations of financial mismanagement at TSU. One university official has already been convicted of misuse of state funds, and other indictments against officials are pending. Governor Rick Perry initially wanted to place the university under a conservatorship, but that could have affected the school's accreditation. Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill that would create a new system for fixing state agencies without using a conservatorship. The bill, by Houston Senator and TSU alumnus Rodney Ellis, would permit the governor to appoint a five-member governing board, subject to approval by the Senate, to implement a rehabilitation plan for a dysfunctional state agency. "One size fits all does not work for every state agency," said Ellis. The regents approved Friday would become that governing board should the Senate bill become law.

Also this week, Governor Rick Perry decided not to veto a bill that would effectively cancel his January mandate requiring HPV vaccines for sixth-grade girls. Both the Senate and House had approved this measure, sending a message that the Legislature, not the Governor, should set immunization policy in the state. Lt. Governor David Dewhurst said the whole controversy over this mandate could have been avoided if the Governor had communicated with the Legislature. "All the Governor would have had to do was talk to us, and he would have seen we would have embraced a program that was opt-in instead of opt-out," he said.

Most of the session's major bills are in conference committee as lawmakers from both houses try and work out differences between the House and Senate versions of these bills. The budget conference committee is moving closer to a compromise, and could be finalized next week. Conferees were appointed this week on Jessica's Law and the Texas Youth Commission reform bill. Both chambers continue to work on a compromise on SB 1892, the transportation omnibus bill that would stop construction of private toll roads for two years and limit the scope of public-private partnerships.

The Senate will reconvene Monday, May 14, at 11 a.m.

Session video and all other webcast recordings can be accessed from the Senate website's audio and video archive pages.

May 11, 2007

COLLEGE STATION – Cancer prevention screenings just became more affordable for women who have little or no health insurance, said Courtney Schoessow, Texas Cooperative Extension program specialist for health education and development.

“On April 20, President Bush signed the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act (HR 1132) into law,” she said. “According to the National Cancer Institute, this bill authorizes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program to provide breast and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured and underinsured women.”

Breast cancer is the most common form of this disease among women, she said, and cervical cancer is a serious threat. According to estimates from the cancer institute, this year 180,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 11,000 with cervical cancer.

“Unfortunately many women with these cancers do not know they have it until it is in its advanced stages,” she said. “Early detection via health screenings is an important step.” Such early detection – before symptoms occur – could make treatment easier and survival more likely, Schoessow said. And this legislation will make early detection more affordable for many women. “The program is expected to provide more than 700,000 screenings for low-income and underinsured women,” she said.

For information on who is eligible for these tests, Schoessow advised visiting the Texas Department of State Health Services Web site at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/bcccs/ and clicking on the link to “Eligibility.”

“For example,” she said, “you can qualify for a free or low-cost screening if you have four people in your home and the annual maximum yearly salary is $41,300 or less.” Women who are concerned about their risks for developing these diseases should talk to medical providers, Schoessow said.

Getting screened “could save your life,” she said.

May 11, 2007

Photos and Graphics Click for larger images

OVERTON – Tidal Wave™ Cherry petunias are a bright red that can be seen from a quarter mile away, said a Texas A&M horticulturist.

Tidal Wave Cherry and its sister plant, Tidal Wave Silver, are the newest Texas Superstar releases. Tidal Wave Silver is "white with a lavender blush that mixes well with purple foliage in cool color schemes," said Dr. Brent Pemberton, research horticulturist with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

"Both petunias have been tested in locations across the state – Overton, San Antonio, Dallas and College Station – and been found to thrive in summer conditions," said Pemberton, who is based at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Overton.

Texas Superstar program is a cooperative effort between university and industry leaders to identify pest-resistant plants adapted to Texas conditions, Pemberton said. The candidate plants are never sprayed with any pesticide and grown at several locations in rigorous Texas A&M Agriculture field trials.

Petunias have been a popular plant for home gardens and landscapes for years, Pemberton said. There are a "rainbow" of colors available to Texas gardeners for just about as long. But what hasn't been available is a petunia that is both showy and that holds up to the heat and humidity of Texas summers.

Tidal Wave Cherry and Tidal Wave Silver are not the first petunias designated as Texas Superstars. In 1999, the ‘Laura Bush' petunia, developed by Greg Grant, Stephen F. Austin State University lecturer, was designated a Texas Superstar, Pemberton said.

May 11, 2007

COLLEGE STATION - The 53rd annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course will be held Aug. 6-8 at Texas A&M University in College Station.

"Planning committee members from around the state have met with us and helped us put together another outstanding program," said Dr. Jason Cleere, Texas Cooperative Extension beef cattle specialist and conference coordinator.

This year's short course will address cost increases in fertilizer, fuel, equipment and grain and how they affect a rancher's profits," Cleere said.

"Increasing feed and fertilizer costs continue to put a lot of pressure on beef cattle producers to look for new ways to produce a pound of beef more economically," he said. "In the near future, economics may override traditional ranch practices."

The short course, sponsored by Texas Cooperative Extension, will address these issues as well as other topics during the three-day event, providing information for the novice rancher as well as for the most seasoned one, Cleere said.

"The 2007 short course will be one of the most important programs of the year for today's beef producers looking to the future," said Dr. Larry Boleman, assistant deputy vice chancellor and conference director. "Previous participants always comment on the variety of topics that are offered during the Beef Cattle Short Course," he said. "One of the most popular features of the short course is the 'Cattleman's College' where participants can choose workshops and topics from a field of approximately 17 different subjects on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The concurrent workshops will feature information on ranch management, nutrition, reproduction, genetics, pastures, carcass evaluation, record keeping, organic and natural beef production."

In addition to the Cattleman.s College sessions, a key general session will be offered on Monday afternoon.

The Wednesday "Cattleman's College" sessions are designed to offer a more hands- on approach to calf working, cattle handling, cattle selection, carcass evaluation and record keeping, Cleere said. Participants will also have an opportunity to obtain a private applicators license that day.

"The goal of the Beef Cattle Short Course each year is to provide the most cutting-edge information that is vital to beef cattle producers," said Cleere.

"'Changing Dynamics of the U.S. Beef Industry'" will be the theme of the general session this year, and we have already lined up some of the nation.s top speakers," he said.

Participants can earn numerous pesticide continuing education units (CEUs) if already licensed. The trade show will feature more than 100 agricultural businesses and service exhibits, Cleere said. Registration is $140 per person, and includes educational materials, a copy of the 300-page Beef Cattle Short Course proceedings, trade show admittance, tickets to the prime rib dinner, five additional meals and daily refreshments.

Registration information and tentative schedule will be mailed to previous participants in June and can also be found on the short course web site. Producers may register online at http://beef.tamu.edu or contact Cleere.s office at 979-845-6931.

May 11, 2007

ETTER -Producers will have a chance to see how varieties of wheat, canola and triticale performed under this year's wet spring conditions at the Small Grains Field Day.

The field day is scheduled for May 24 at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.s North Plains Research Field north of Dumas. Field tours are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon and will be followed by a lunch.

"This year.s wheat crop is such a stark contrast to last year," said Dr. Jackie Rudd of Amarillo, state wheat breeder for the Experiment Station. "The crop looks good; prices are good . what could be better than getting out and looking at wheat?"

In addition to looking at variety trials for silage and grain production, participants will hear an update on the water-metering rules of the North Plains Water District and the latest information from the Texas High Plains/Texas Water Development Board studies.

Guest speaker Tim Snyder, with Agri-Energy Solutions, will talk on "Ethanol Future in the Panhandle."

Two general continuing education credits will be offered. For more information, contact Rudd or Dr. Brent Bean at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Amarillo at 806-677-5600.

May 10, 2007

COLLEGE STATION - With the news that La Nina may bring another dry spring to the state, Texans may be looking at installing rainwater harvesting systems to help water landscapes and ease utility bills, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension agricultural engineer.

Water resources will become more limited in the state of Texas due to increasing demand,. said Dr. Bruce Lesikar.

However, if we can capture part of our rainwater and use it in the landscape, that will offset the landscape irrigation demand on our drinking water supplies. Then we can efficiently utilize the water that is available to us..

Rainwater harvesting can be accomplished in several different ways, Lesikar said. The first is a system that catches rainwater runoff and diverts it to tanks for storage until used to irrigate the landscape plants.

"Rainwater harvesting tanks come in many shapes, sizes, colors and materials, so depending on your vision for your landscape, you need to choose the most appropriate material," he said.

Homeowners may want to choose a galvanized tank similar to the ones that were used for many years in rural areas. Others are made of wood or come with wooden frames to mask the tank. Still others are made of fiberglass or plastic and come in different colors or can be painted to match the landscape.

Rain gardens are a second rainwater harvesting option that can take several different forms. This rainwater harvesting technique takes advantages of natural or man-made depressed areas in the landscape that store water for short periods of time - usually 24 hours - before allowing it to infiltrate into the soil, he said. The water enters the soil and is used by the plants growing in the rain garden. A portion of the water may reach the groundwater or move to streams through the ground.

A third type of rainwater harvesting is soil storage and infiltration systems, which are sub-soil gravel systems that can store rainwater below the surface and allow it to infiltrate into the soil, he said,

The main advantage of rainwater is that it is a source of high quality water, he said.

"A lot of times our drinking water will have minerals and salt that can then build up in the landscape over time," Lesikar said.

Rainwater has few minerals and salts in it, and it works very well to irrigate plants. It usually has a lower pH as well, he said.

Rainwater can also help by leaching out the salts that build up in the soil and thus maintaining soil health, he said.

Another benefit is that it cuts down the peak runoff rate that leads to problems in our streams and drainage ways.

"Before we build on a piece of property, the soil and vegetation that are on that property hold water from the initial rainfall event," he said. "But after we put buildings on it, driveways, sidewalks, those surfaces will not hold any water. So when a rainfall event occurs, you get a rapid first flush of water that moves off of those properties."

Rainwater harvesting systems slow down the first flush, which mimics the natural process.

That limits the impact on our streams that we have in our urban areas,. he said. .Therefore you have a high-quality water that you can use in your landscape, which is a benefit for you. It can reduce your water bills because you are not using potable water that you have to buy in order to irrigate your area/ And you.re benefiting your community and your area by limiting that water that leaves your property from that first flush and brings it back to more natural rain..

Wildlife also benefit from rainwater harvesting.

"Many people view rainwater harvesting for the production of landscape plants or flower beds," Lesikar said. "However, rainwater harvesting can also be used for watering wildlife in the area."

On smaller acreages, water will be available for rabbits, birds, squirrels or butterflies, he said. But even on acreages, water can still be provided for deer or other larger animals.

Before installing any system, homeowners need to know any restrictions that the community or city might have.

"You do need to consider how it.s going to look in your landscape," Lesikar said.

The tank material or color needs to stop sunlight from passing into the stored water. Generally the few nutrients that are naturally present and collected from the guttering system allow algae growth, and sunlight can cause this plant to grow out of control, he said.

Screens may be used to filter out trash in gutters before it enters tanks.

Also, stored rainwater may attract pests such as mosquitoes, so homeowners will need to screen all inlets and outlets to tanks to control those, he said.

Extension has two publications to help with planning rainwater harvesting systems available through http://tcebookstore.org .The first is .Rainwater Harvesting. (No. 6153), and the second is .Harvesting Water for Wildlife. (No. 6182).

May 8, 2007

BROWNWOOD - Children of military families of all service branches are invited to apply to attend a free Operation Purple summer camp from July 30 to Aug. 3 in Brownwood.

The camp, to be held at the Texas 4-H Center at Lake Brownwood, is open to third- through fifth-grade children of military personnel residing in Texas with a deployment date between May 2006 to September 2008.

"Operation Purple camps give children of military families the opportunity to meet and speak with other kids dealing with the stresses and problems of a having a deployed parent or parents," said Marilyn Prause, Texas Cooperative Extension program specialist for military 4-H. "During a parent's deployment, kids have to deal with a lot of issues, such as separation, loneliness and anxiety. The camp gives these kids a way to address these issues, but also a chance to have fun and just be kids."

This is one of several camps being offered to children of military families from around the world, Prause said.

"Operation Purple camp is a joint effort of the Texas National Guard, Army Reserves and the Texas 4-H program," she said. "It was developed by the National Military Family Association, and the color purple chosen as a way to represent that it is open to all branches of the military."

Activities include camping, canoeing, fishing, swimming, a challenge course, archery and other athletic endeavors. Attendees also participate in interpersonal and team-building activities.

"There are also workshops and discussions about deployment issues at camp," Prause said. "But there are also opportunities for the kids to get involved in community service projects and participate in fun and educational activities. There's a lot of good-natured competition among the kids."

This camp is sponsored by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Sierra Club.

The Texas 4-H Center at Lake Brownwood is accredited by the American Camping Association. Participants are housed in modern dormitories and provided with three meals a day and snacks.

Applications will be accepted until May 15. For more information and to register, go to http://www.nmfa.org/ or call Prause at 254-774-6024.

May 8, 2007

COLLEGE STATION - Not all breast cancers start with a lump, said Courtney Schoessow, Texas Cooperative Extension program specialist for health education and development.

Inflammatory breast cancer "is an extremely rare, fast-growing and lethal form of breast cancer," she said.

Only about 1 percent to 5 percent of breast cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed as inflammatory, Schoessow said, but this form of cancer tends to occur more often in younger women, especially younger African-American women.

According to the National Cancer Institute, inflammatory breast cancer may cause redness, warmth and swelling in the breast, or even the appearance of bruising. Other symptoms may include heaviness, burning, tenderness, pitted or ridged skin, and an inverted nipple. Lymph nodes under the arm or above the collarbone - or both - may be swollen.

"It (inflamatory breast cancer) is not usually detected by mammograms or ultrasounds unless there is a defined lump," Schoessow said.

Any of the symptoms listed require prompt diagnosis and treatment, she said.

Even if you think you have a rash or infection, it is important for your health care provider to determine the best course of action..

If antibiotics are prescribed for symptoms such as rash or infection but the condition doesn.t clear up in a week, Schoessow said, .The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation recommends you insist that your doctor do a biopsy to see if cancer cells are present..

Because this form of breast cancer is rare, a second opinion might be necessary, she added.

Schoessow advised: "Remember that breast cancer can strike men and women at any time. Any change in your breasts should be investigated without delay."

The good news is: Not everything said to cause breast cancer actually does, Schoessow said.

"Have you heard the rumor about antiperspirants or deodorants causing breast cancer?" she said.

Don't worry - it's not true.

Researchers from both the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration say 'there is no conclusive evidence linking the use of underarm antiperspirants or deodorants and the subsequent development of breast cancer," she said.

Women are asked to remove their antiperspirant or deodorant when they are having a mammogram. But according to the American Cancer Society, that's because these products might contain aluminum, which can affect the results of the screening, she added.

If you are concerned about breast cancer, talk with your doctor, nurse or health care provider about your risk,. Schoessow said.

You can reduce your risk of developing or dying from breast cancer by avoiding or limiting the use of hormone replacement therapies, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and getting regular mammograms and clinical breast exams.. For more information on this and other health issues, visit Extension.s Family and Consumer Sciences Web site at http://fcs.tamu.edu/ and click on the link to Health.

May 7, 2007

COLLEGE STATION - Cool spring weather in the eastern half of Texas may have slowed the buildup of West Nile virus in mosquitoes and birds.

Dr. Jim Olson said the southern house mosquito, the primary vector of the disease, has not been able to reproduce as readily as in previous years.

"Its numbers are considerably lower this year than at this time last year," Olson said. "Now we.re going into bird-nesting time, which is the prime builduptime for the bird and mosquito populations..

Since fewer mosquitoes are feeding on nesting birds, Olson hopes that will translate into a lower infection rate of West Nile in birds.

The virus cycles from mosquitoes to birds to more mosquitoes and perhaps humans, Olson said.

"So we're hoping for the best and planning for the worst," he added.

West Nile is a potentially serious illness in humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people will show no symptoms at all, but up to "20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back," the CDC said.

These symptoms can last for several days to a couple of weeks, said the CDC. About one in 150 people will develop even more severe symptoms.

To date, no virus has been isolated from birds or mosquitoes, but possible human cases in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston area raise the possibility that the virus is active.

"That indicates to us and the people we protect that we can't let our guard down," Olson said. "Even though infection rates are smaller in number we would hate for anyone to be one of those infections."

"So we ask people take care of themselves, do what they.re supposed to do. That means cover up, use repellents, get rid of mosquito breeding sites, and mosquito-proof their houses," he said. "No amount of spraying, no amount of work by the city and county health departments or mosquito control districts can do as much as the individuals themselves."

The flooding rains in some areas have received lately also will deter the buildup of the virus, Olson said.

The mosquitoes primarily involved in the transmission are being flushed out and becoming fish food in the streams and rivers,. he said.

"On the down side, the rains are hatching floodwater species."

While these are not vectors, they are a major annoyance, Olson said, and people living in coastal areas especially need to take precautions.

"In the next 10 days or so, the mosquitoes will be coming to town looking for blood meals," he said. "They.re going to come hungry. And there.s not much you can do about those except stay inside and watch TV for the next 10 days to two weeks."

The West Nile virus has been found in mosquitoes and birds in all 48 contiguous states. Texas - where West Nile has been found virtually all of the state - ranked second in the nation in the number of human cases last year. Idaho ranked first and Colorado, third.

"Most of the infections occur when mosquitoes are in houses," Olson said.

Given the choice, the southern house mosquito would rather feed on birds.

"It's when they are trapped inside, they're more apt to feed on humans," Olson said.

May 7, 2007

DALLAS -- Dr. Jim McAfee has heard it time and again about St. Augustine grass this spring: "You mean my lawn's not the only one?"

You're not alone if your St. Augustine lawn has patches of dead grass or is gone altogether, said McAfee, a Texas Cooperative Extension turfgrass specialist.

The popular species is suffering this season under a harmful set of circumstances.

A prolonged drought and hard freezes last winter were enough by themselves to weaken St. Augustine, he said. But the weather conditions also left the grass vulnerable to take-all root rot and nigrospora, two diseases that can ravage lawns.

"We've seen a significant loss of St. Augustine," McAfee said. "It's probably the No. 1 problem with lawns right now."

The grass is dying around Texas in dry areas where the weather gets cold, he said.

"It's not just in Dallas and Fort Worth; it's all over."

St. Augustine is falling victim because it is a subtropical variety that is best suited for warmer coastal areas that get more rain. There wouldn.t have been much anyone could have done to protect their lawns, he said. Even regularly watered grass suffered from the drought.

"People think that everything should be OK because they.ve watered," McAfee said. "But go lie on a beach in the sun all day. You can drink all the water you want, but see how you feel at the end of the day."

Some people might not know they have a problem because weeds can fill in and turn brown patches green, he said.

The first thing to do about damaged turf is be patient, he said. As temperatures warm up, the St. Augustine might eventually spread and fill in brown or yellowing areas.

Avoid using herbicides on weeds, which could stress the grass further.

"If it's all brown and dead go ahead and re-sod it," he said. "If it's still somewhat green, give it time."

Don't waste money on fungicides unless you know for sure what is killing the grass," he said.

For testing, grass samples can be sent to a local lawn expert or to Texas A&M University.s Plant Diagnostic Lab, Rm. 101, L.F. Peterson Bldg., College Station, TX 77843, McAfee said.

May 7, 2007

SONORA - Ranch owners and managers interested in learning about prescribed burning are invited to an Academy for Ranch Management workshop Aug. 2-4 at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at Sonora.

"The workshop is designed to teach fire characteristics, how to plan and carry out a prescribed burn, habitat manipulation, and post-burn management," said Ray Hinnant, one of the workshop instructors.

"This workshop can be taken alone to learn the basics of prescribed burning or used as a prerequisite for an advanced prescribed burning workshop that can satisfy the educational component for the Certified Prescribed Burn Manager," Hinnant said. "The Academy for Ranch Management has trained more than 120 individuals in prescribed burning, and more than 30 who have passed the educational component of the Certified Prescribed Burn Manager," Hinnant said.

Participants will be able to see the results of different prescribed burns at the station that have been conducted for over 20 years, he said.

Attendees will develop a burning plan and participate in a practice burn. To assist them when they return to their ranches, participants will receive the .Burn Boss. handbook that has space for contact information, a check sheet to make sure they are prepared for the burn, tables to assist in estimating fire behavior, and a journal for several burns, Hinnant said.

Individuals are encouraged to register early for the workshop, Hinnant said. Cost is $395, which includes lodging and meals. For more information about registration or directions to the station, contact Hinnant at 979-776-0693 or ranchmanagement@yahoo.com .

More information on the Academy for Ranch Management can be found on the Web at http://www.ranchmanagement.org.

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