Opinion

Every morning I drive over “Big Hill” south of town. I’m constantly amazed at the beauty of our county. Sure, places like Jackson, Wyoming, and Moab, Utah are beautiful. But I’ll put our slice of God’s country right up there with the best of them. And when you add in Big Bend National Park ...

Youth Development programs have experienced a paradigm shift over the past several decades. Where many of these programs formally placed a large focus on the treatment and prevention of negative behaviors, now many youth development organizations place a greater emphasis on instilling life and leadership skills as a part of a more robust positive youth development approach. As the largest youth development organization in Texas, reaching over 500,000 youth annually, Texas 4H has also expanded its programming areas to provide opportunities for our growing youth population, however, the organization continues to rely on its foundational elements that lie within program areas such as livestock projects. When you mention 4H to someone unfamiliar with the organization, there is a strong possibility that youth livestock projects are one of the first things that will come to their mind. Why not Robotics, Public Speaking, Performing Arts, Photography, Consumer Education, or any of the other multitudes of project options? The reason for this is that the organization has relied on livestock projects as the backbone of the organization for decades. This is in large part due to the life skills development that can be attributed to participation in livestock exhibitions.

“If you think you’ve seen it all, Stick around.” — Song lyrics by Jason Mraz, American singer-songwriter, and guitarist. This is not a sports column.

Almost 100 Texas schools have filed a lawsuit against Education Commissioner Mike Morath and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) over changes to the state’s accountability system. Why? Because they contend, TEA is intentionally lowering A-F performance ratings for school districts using unlawful, retroactive tactics.

It comes in different dressed up names; from school choice to vouchers, let’s call it what it is: sending taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuitions. Coming up, presumably on October 9, Governor Abbott is set to call legislators back to Austin to debate public education funding and school vouchers, with the latter being his highest priority.

As the changing of the guard is always inevitable in rural America, I would like to reflect on the incomprehensible gratitude we as a community have for the entire Porter’s Family. Porter’s has been the cornerstone of our neighborhood, serving not just as a place to shop for essentials but as the go-to fundraiser location for our community. Porter’s is the heart of our community. They sponsor Little League teams, participate in neighborhood events, and contribute to local charities. Their commitment to the community’s well-being goes beyond selling groceries; it’s about doing what’s right Today, as the Porter family reluctantly bids farewell to their beloved store, we find ourselves reflecting on our immense gratitude for this family-run gem that has enriched our lives in so many ways.