February 2025

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HEAD OVER MEALS Laissez les bons temps rouler! Or, for those of you who don’t speak French, Let the good times roll. This common New Orleans saying is especially true during Mardi Gras.

First Assembly of God As we enter the Easter Season next month, I wanted to reflect on scriptures that speak to what was accomplished in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before mankind was created, God had a redemption plan in place to allow each of us to be restored to our Heavenly Father.

The Museum of the Big Bend on the Sul Ross State University campus has once again earned national recognition, securing the No. 7 spot in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2025.

Dear Neil, regarding the crape myrtle bark scale – Southeastern Virginia has been battling this pest for years. The scale itself will not kill the plants. However, the sooty mold is the real problem. The more insects, the sootier mold there is. The mold covers the leaves, which reduces photosynthesis. It also covers the thin bark, resulting in poor respiration. After several years of uncontrolled pests, the plant will die. I’ve seen even plants with 8-in. diameter trunks require removal after three to five years. Foliar applications of dormant oil do not work. Contact sprays offer very limited control. Systemic insecticides do the job. After two years, the pests are gone, and the sooty bark has sloughed off. In my opinion, this is not a pest to ignore.

Alpine Avalanche.

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The Alpine Bucks’ playoff run came to an end Friday night in Odessa, as they fell to the Slaton Tigers 6952 in the Area Championship. Despite a hard-fought effort, Alpine couldn’t overcome the No.