COUNTY LIFE
Weather folklore abounds this week from moon halo to Groundhog Day

There is a lot of weather lore being tossed around this week in the midst of the latest winter storm.
Besides Groundhog Day coming on Feb. 2, there also was Thunder snow and Thunder ice on Monday plus a halo around the moon during the weekend.
First, the halo around the moon. Before modern meteorology, watching the skies and relying on past history was the primary source of forecasting. For example, the halo around the moon, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, predicts wet or stormy weather.
Many of these proverbs were based on some bits of truth. The Almanac reports the ring around the moon usually indicates an advancing warm front, which means precipitation. Under those conditions, high, thin clouds get lower and thicker as they pass over the moon. Ice crystals are reflected by the moon’s light, causing a halo to appear. Despite some cloudy skies, several people reported seeing the halo.
There are several proverbs about thunder at various times during the spring.
Thunder in March betokens a fruitful year.
If it thunders on All Fools Day (April 1), it brings good crops of corn and hay.
Thunder in November, a fertile year to come.
Thunder in December presages fine weather.
Then we have Groundhog Day on Feb. 2. Will he or won’t he see his shadow? According to folklore:
If Phil does see his shadow (meaning the sun is shining), winter will not end early, and we’ll have another six weeks left of it.
If Phil doesn’t see his shadow (cloudy) we’ll have an early spring.
The folks at Punxsutawney, PA have been gathering for years in Gobbler’s Knob to see if Phil the groundhog shows his head out of the burrow. They have made something of a national celebration for it considering him the “Official Groundhog.”
The Farmer’s Almanac report that Phil’s “Inner Circle,” claim his predictions are almost always right, but records indicate it’s more like 39% since Phil began prognosticating back in 1887. The record shows he has predicted an early end to winter 18 times. In 2011 he predicted early spring only to see the eastern half of the U.S. get pounded with snow on into mid-March.
The date of Groundhog Day coincides with the medieval feast of Candlemas and its pre-Christian predecessor, Imbolc. An old Scottish prophecy foretells that sunny weather on Candlemas means a long winter.
No matter what the weather spring will officially arrive with Vernal Equinox at 5:24 p.m. on March 20. The Farmer’s Almanac reports warmer, spring-like weather may not come until a little later.
COUNTY LIFE
Storms causing major damage to city streets

Spring storms have been creating dangerous conditions for the past two weeks, and Mother Nature continues to douse North Texas with rain this week.
For January through April the City of Bowie water plant staff recorded 14.56 inches of rain, including a whopping 11.76 inches in April alone. For the first six days of May the rain has totaled 1.55 inches.
Nocona received a bit more rain for this period, a total of 19.28 inches according to Texas Mesonet. In April it recorded 9.89 inches and in March 3.25 inches. For the first six days of May 4.36 inches was recorded.
Lake Amon G. Carter is still more than 100% full and threatening to go
over the emergency spillway when it reaches 927 msl. The lake is considered full at 920 msl and as of May 6 it was 924.47 msl.
Last week, the city sent out flood warnings for those downstream in the path of water that could flow out of the lake across this spillway. One month ago the lake was full at 920.06
City Emergency Management Coordinator Kirk Higgins said Monday as of now no water has come out of the spillway, but he does not expect that to continue if the rain does not stop. The lake continues to be closed due to flooding.
Lake Nocona was at 828.44 msl on May 6 and is considered full at 827.5 msl. Just one month ago the lake was 88.4% full at 825.60 msl. Its boat ramps were closed briefly last week due to flooding, but have since reopened.
Last week’s heavy rainfall continues to plague city streets and low-lying areas. While not unexpected the creek that flows in the Nelson Street area east toward Pillar was raging full of storm water last week topping the creek bed going into the streets and under nearby houses.
Public Works Director Stony Lowrance said a section of Rock near Pillar has been closed, although Pillar remains open. A section of the curb and road on the creekside has broken away and fallen into the ditch creating hazardous road conditions. A small part of the street had been coned off as a small section had caved in last month.
Lowrance said they are keeping a close eye on this area as rains continue, noting this is not an unexpected problem as the Rock and Pillar Street has been debated in the city council as being the next major capital project for the city. Nearby Nelson Street drainage was completed in late 2024 and while it alleviated flooding issues in that area, it also is sending more water down to an intersection where the culverts are in the same deteriorated and eroded conditions as those were under Nelson Street that were replaced.
Top photo: A section of the curb and street near Pillar and Rock has collapsed into the creek bed following last week’s rains. (Photo by Rosie Cole)
COUNTY LIFE
Chisholm Trail Rodeo gears up for 73rd year

Nocona is saddling up for the 73rd annual Chisholm Trail Rodeo May 9-10 at the rodeo grounds in Nocona.
The rodeo will be nightly at 7:30 p.m. with a parade on Saturday at 3 p.m. Rodeo gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance.
Along with the traditional rodeo events including bareback riding, saddle bronc, ranch bronc, bulls, ladies barrels, tie-down roping, ladies breakaway roping, steer wrestlers and team roping, there will be a calf scramble nightly for ages 8 and under and 9-12. Winners receive buckles. Friday night there will be an FFA calf scramble benefiting participating FFA chapters.
Mutton bustin’ will be conducted for those age eight and under at 7 p.m. nightly. The top five are back to performance. Enter onsite by 6:30 p.m. each night. Entry fee is $20 with buckles to the winners.
Read the full story and meet the rodeo queen and princess candidates in the Thursday Bowie News.
COUNTY LIFE
Commissioner’s to meet May 12

The Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on May 12.
A brief agenda of business awaits the court in its regular session.
The court will consider approving the Law Enforcement Support Office application.
Consider applying to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a scrap tire facility permit.
Discuss precinct one removing excess dirt and debris from bar ditches and giving it to Gary Brewer, Rickey Joyce and David Steadham.
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