COUNTY LIFE
Texas watermelon bringing joy to summer produce
By Justin Hansard, county extension agent
In spite of many usual and pesky problems associated with growing those big, beautiful Texas “thumpers,” most reports have it that a good watermelon crop is headed our way this year.
“When naming Texas’ leading vegetable crops, it’s easy to get confused,” said Logan Hawkes, blogger for Southwest Farm Press.
Texas is noted for its cabbage, spinach, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, chile peppers, cantaloupe, strawberries and blackberries.
While not all of the above are technically vegetables, an old rule in the Lone Star State says if it grows in Texas soil and often is served up on the table, then it must be a vegetable.
But when it comes to specialty crop production in Texas, it’s true. No one would argue that cotton and corn and other grains of many types win the award for being the largest and most valued crops in the state – hands down. But watermelons follow as another of the most successful crops grown in Texas.
Read the full story on watermelons in the mid-week News.
The 22nd annual July Jam returns on July 27 to the Bowie Community Center West Hall, 413 Pelham Street in Bowie.
There will be a “chickin’ pickin’ fiddling fun time” as guests will be entertained by amazing fiddling tunes and enjoying a chicken meal with delicious homemade jams because it wouldn’t be July Jam without it.
Tickets are just $15 with the event starting at 6 p.m. The funds raised help provide awards for the Championship Fiddler Competition during Chicken and Bread Days Heritage Festival on Oct. 5.
This attracts talented musicians from all over to visit downtown Bowie to test their fiddling skills on stage in the Bowie Fire Hall on Oct. 5.
Along with the live fiddling entertainment, come hungry and be ready to outbid your neighbors at the silent auction or just stop by for a great meal, fellowship and soak in the air conditioning.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
The Nocona City Council met this past week making plans for budget and tax rate hearings.
Councilors received a brief update on the 2024-25 budget preparations. City Secretary Revell Hardison said the final proposal is almost complete and they now await the arrival of the no-new revenue tax rate that will be reviewed by the council after it is calculated by the tax collector.
The proposal includes a tax rate increase of about 3% similar to last year and there will be a small increase in water and sewer rates, but Hardison said the final crunch on those will come after the tax rate projections arrive.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
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