The Clifton Record and Meridian Tribune have a new face at the helm of the news department. Cristin Parker, former Editor of The Cherokeean in Rusk, has taken over as editor of both publications. Her first official day was Thursday, Oct. 1,

Vistra, an energy powerhouse based in Irving, announced plans to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. A key part of that plan is a capital investment of $1.15 billion by 2022 on solar and storage projects in California and Texas.

Texas’ first- and third-largest cities could be in daily commuting distance from each other via the high-speed Texas Central Railroad. Proponents of the proposed bullet train hailed two historic milestones last week: The Federal Railroad Administration released its rules of the road for the project and approved the environmental review and route for the track between Houston and Dallas.

When it rains, it pours. Literally. The day before the trench was to be dug--- to run the wire to our ancient windmill--- in a perfect example of Murphy’s Law of Coincidence--- the forty-year-old pump for the sucker rod assembly gave out with no notice whatsoever. It just quietly burned up and died, and I mourned its passing. My uncle took that motor out of something else many years ago. It coaxed water from that shallow well since the wind stopped doing the job back when I was a little girl. For the days it was out, I missed the comforting, familiar sound of the rods going up and down in the background.

These last few weeks of sequestering plus the usual spring/ summer work have reminded me of earlier times here---when we first returned to Texas. Zack had a day job then, but every evening, weekend and holiday found us outside--- working very hard. It was intense--- still is. On a ranch, there’s no such thing as “retired”. Some of those early days stick with me more than others. The old windmill looms large in many memories. It’s still around but inactive; after the serious droughts of the last decade, the old well went dry for the first time ever. Water reappears sporadically in very wet seasons. Perhaps if we ever see consistently normal rainfall, water will return---and the windmill will be up and running again.

While scientists race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is urging everyone to get a flu shot.

I saw [the] article about he County Commissioner’s Court and the split vote on the property tax increase. I agree with Commissioner Liardon.

It’s time to reinstitute the Toad Relocation Program which had been temporarily discontinued due to lack of problematic toads. Some years there’s a burgeoning toad population here.

Texas Department of Transportation officials noticed more personal protective equipment -- face masks, wipes and gloves -- on the side of roads and highways, so they called in the big guns for a new round of “Don’t mess with Texas” commercials. The celebrities featured include George Strait, Matthew McConaughey and Eva Longoria.

Skin Color I was born into our American Caste System. Fortunately I was born white of skin, a very important notation on my birth certificate.