Local man uses age-old process for syrup By Rich Flowers Athens Daily Review
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et the biscuits ready, the syrup is boiling. Delbert Stutts of County Road 3715 was outside on a cool Thursday in November cooking up a batch. It used to be a common practice in this part of the country, but Stutts said not many people are still doing it these days. “There’s a lot of work to it,” Stutts said. “I just like ribbon cane syrup and I don’t like that stuff in the stores. The cane is real sweet. I was raised on it. I guess that’s why I love it so much.” Smoke wafts from the tub of the solution and the sweet smell is detectable from a few feet away.
“You’ve got to grow some cane,” Stutts said. “Then you’ve got to cut it and strip it.” After that the cane is run through a squeezer. “You squeeze this juice out, then put it in this vat and cook it,” Stutts said. Next year, Stutts said, he plans to use a copper pan to do the boiling. “It’ll cook it twice as fast,” Stutts said. “It’s about 12 feet long. It takes longer in this one because it’s small and too deep. It takes longer to boil the water out.” Stutts said it would take about eight hours to get the water boiled away. When he’s done, he’ll have about eight gallons of syrup. “You’ve got to watch it,” Stutts
said. “When it gets down a little further, you’ve got to start stirring it to keep it from burning.” Stutts has a place near Malakoff where he raises his crop of cane.
The cane he was boiling was brought over by a friend, John Morton. “Mine froze out last winter,” Stutts said. “He got his cut and bedded out before the freeze hit.” Stutts said you plant the whole stalk of cane in the ground. The eye of the cane makes it come up. The sugar cane plant uses the process of photosynthesis to make sugar and stores it in the stem. “My dad and I used to get together and make syrup all day long,” Stutts said. “I’m trying to get some of these young men started on this stuff. I haven’t had any luck yet.” When the syrup is cooked, Stutts pours it into a pint jar. Then it’s ready to put on pancakes, biscuits, or to use in cooking. “It makes those good cookies, syrup cake and lots of good stuff,” Stutts said. “I eat quite a bit of it, sell some or give it away,” Stutts said.
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Time to cleanup and prep with winter garden tips Special to the Herald-Press from Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
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ow that cold weather has finally arrived to end the growing season for most garden plants, you might think that there is nothing left to do in the outdoor garden. But, there’s now some cleanup to be done, preparations for next year, and perhaps some rearranging of your “garden furniture”.
Garden Clean Up
The hard freezes on Monday and Tuesday have left many perennials and annuals a wilted mass of stems and leaves. Time to clean up the garden, and the frozen vegetation can make a good addition to the compost pile. Chop them up if you can, and then mix in shredded leaves, and in no time (or at least in a year) you will have rich compost to add to any planting project. This is also the perfect time to refresh the layer of mulch around your perennials and shrubs. Maybe you have too many leaves for the compost heap; run your mower repeatedly over the leaves to chop them up, and use them to cover bare ground or top off mulch in your flower beds or garden.
As the mulch layer of leaves (or other once living things like tree trimmings, bark products or pine needles) decomposes, it enriches the soil below. Because it continuously breaks down, it needs to be periodically refreshed to keep doing its job of weed suppression, water conservation, and insulation
from temperature extremes. The thickness should be maintained at no less than 2.5 inches, and keep the material away from direct contact with the base of shrubs and trees. Instead, taper the thickness so the center is open like a donut. Don’t get in a hurry to prune woody trees, shrubs, and fruit trees. Late December through February is the optimum time.
cover with a mulch of leaves to keep weeds from taking over. By doing this now, you will avoid the problem that often happens during spring planting, which is frequent rains keeping the soil too wet to cultivate, thus delaying spring planting and perhaps missing ideal planting windows of time.
Holiday Plants
Tis the season for poinsettias and other holiday plants. These days, thanks to plant breeders, there are more varieties of poinsettias than ever, and given proper care, they can last long after the holiday season. To get the most out of poinsettias, chose ones with bright yellow, but mostly closed flowers in the center of the colorful bracts. The leaves should be a healthy dark green color. Don’t let it get cold on the way home (maybe place in a large bag to keep cold air off until you get in the car, and get it home as soon as possible). Place your plants in a welllit location, but away from cold windows, hot fireplaces, or drafts from a vent. Pots wrapped in decorative foil can hold water, which can cause roots to begin to rot, shortening the life of your plant. Water only when the soil feels dry (but don’t let it get so dry it wilts). Remove decorative foil when watering, let it drain, and then replace the foil. There is no need to fertilize it at this time of year.
Examine Your Landscape
Wintertime is an ideal time for planting hardy trees and shrubs. And it is also a good time to examine your landscape, for at this time of year, what you see are the “bones” of the landscape. Overgrown shrubs that are crowding one another, hiding windows, blocking entrance ways, and barren at the base may be good candidates for removal, to be replaced with more appropriate plantings. During this dormant season, younger shrubs and small sapling trees can be dug and moved most successfully, provided sufficient roots are maintained during the process.
Prepare Soil for Spring Planting
This is also a good time to get your vegetable and annual flower garden sites ready for spring planting. Loosen compacted soil, incorporate lots of compost, and
The aisles between rows are an ideal place to put excess leaves, creating an all-weather walkway and reducing soil compaction. By the end of next year, the leaves will have turned into rich compost.
Prepare engines for winter
The owner’s manual is the best guide to winterizing a lawn mower, tiller, garden tractor or other powered equipment. The main steps generally include draining the fuel tank and the engine of fuel — or using a fuel stabilizing additive, which allows you to leave fuel in the tank over winter;
draining and changing the oil; cleaning and sharpening, adjusting and lubricating the various parts as needed; and replacing or cleaning the air filter. Remove the spark plug and place a teaspoon of clean oil in the cylinder and turn the engine over with the starter. This coats the cylinder walls and valves and protects against rust. You can put the old spark plug back or buy a new one and put it in. Batteries should be cleaned off, especially the posts. A little preventative maintenance now will help prevent early spring visits to the repair shop. Drain and store garden hoses and watering equipment in a readily accessible location. The lawn and other plants may need water during a prolonged dry spell.
Take Care of Feathered Friends
Remember to provide food and water for birds this winter. If you put out a variety of seeds, like sunflower, thistle, safflower, and millet, plus suet, you will draw a large diversity of birds. Once you begin putting out bird food, continue feeding them through the springtime.
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electricity cheaper should reduce the monthly bill for homeowners. Those folks who serve as directors of our electric cooperatives and investor owned power companies should demand management get busy with the building of generating plants that use natural gas. No question that natural gas is a “clean fuel” and a lot healthier for our air than coal—and a lot cheaper than solar or wind energy. Then we have the folks who call themselves “environmentalists” who have fallen in love with ethanol. Only problem is that ethanol offers less power for automobiles than does regular gas. And that added ethanol will quickly destroy gas lines on chain saws, lawnmowers and other small engines. We have produced so much
selling the tax-subsidized product to markets overseas—and taxpayers are the losers again. One pet peeve of many of us is the over use of electronic devices. On December 23, 1890, Mark Twain had a letter printed in the “New York World” newspaper. It conveyed vividly his opinion of the telephone. “It is my heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us—the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage—may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss—except the inventor of the telephone.” Mr. Twain how right you were! That’s –30— Horace@valornet.com
Taxpayers Should Say “NO MAS”!
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here comes a time when those who pay the bills should rise up and demand our “welfare” government quit making stupid decisions. One glaring example is the vote getting program to build more solar farms and add more humongous windmills to generate electricity. Neither is cost efficient— but the tax subsidy to those companies involved cost us billions every year. Here in East Texas we have natural gas selling for less than production cost— while many oil and gas companies face bankruptcy unless prices rise soon. Still, the do-gooders are extolling the solar and wind power fiascos. Better to build power plants here at home to take advantage of our abundant natural gas. Over the long run, producing
ethanol that we are now in an ethanol sea. A lot of the ethanol plants are
Fluctuating temps create challenges By Jo Anne Embleton
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jembleton@jacksonvilleprogress.com
s temperatures fluctuate each winter, ranchers are challenged with ensurintg their herds’ protection from brisk winds, cold rain, ice and maybe even snow in some areas. In his article “Cold Weather Livestock Stewardship,” Dr. Rick Machen of the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Uvalde, notes that in Texas, temperatures can change in a matter of hours, which
means livestock owners have their animals’ safety in mind at all times. “Stockmen need to go the extra mile while caring for livestock” that ranges from elderly animals to newborns, to sickly animals and those who are good health, he said. “Animals in thin flesh and newborns have minimal fat (insulation) under their skin and are especially vulnerable,” he noted. “Move livestock to easily accessible pastures that contain easily accessible pastures that contain from the wind (and precipitation if possible).”
Machen also cites adequate water intake as essential for the hardiness of a herd, and reminds ranchers to make sure water sources – such as troughs – remain free from ice, and topped with “relatively warm water” to ensure a ready source. Also, he said, “If forage is in short supply or covered with ice or snow, provide enough hay for (livestock) to eat their fill at least once a day.” This will help animals generate heat, therefore “if possible, feed livestock in the late afternoon to take advantage of this ‘internal heat’ during the colder nighttime temperatures,” Machen said. Machen also notes that colic is winter health concern for horse owners, and recommends feeding equines with extra long stem hay, if possible, twice daily to help keep the problem at bay. Another thing to keep in mind, he said, is that “adult horses will drink 10-plus gallons of water daily,” which is a critical component in avoiding colic and necessary for a horse’s proper digestive function, as is regular exercise of the animal. Other notes of interest listed in his article (found at http://texashelp.tamu.edu/005-agriculture/pdf/ColdWeather-Livestock-Stewardship.pdf) are: • “Old, young and thin animals are at greatest risk of hypothermia” • “A wet haircoat provides little insulation against the cold” • “Cold temperatures reduce water consumption” • “Restricted water consumption results in reduced feed intake” • “Maintain water sources for wildlife use” as well.
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Disaster declared; help available Texas farmers and ranchers have options for disaster assistance By Michael Kormos Corsicana Daily Sun
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he devastating floods in October earned Navarro County a disaster declaration and left many residents with damaged farms and ranches. Fences washed down, livestock got loose and many barns and out-buildings were destroyed. When disasters such as the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding strike, farmers and ranchers may be eligible for assistance from several agencies and should apply today. The Federal Emergency Management Agency may assist survivors who are farmers and ranchers with some immediate needs, including grants to pay for temporary housing and minor home repairs; grants to replace personal property, including clothing; and grants to pay for serious immediate needs not covered by insurance. “The Navarro County Farm
Service Agency has already had several applicants for assistance,” said Troy York of FEMA. “Several local farmers have applied but have not yet been approved.” Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362. The tollfree lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. The U.S. Small Business Administration also provides low-interest loans to eligible farmers and ranchers to rebuild or repair their primary home and replace lost or damaged personal property, including automobiles. The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster damaged private property. For more information contact SBA directly by calling 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba. gov, or visit’s SBA’s website at http://www.sba.gov/disaster. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency disaster assistance includes: • Emergency Loan Program:
Provides loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses. Farmers must have suffered at least a 30 percent loss in crop production and physical loss to livestock, livestock products, real estate, or chattel property. • Non-Insured Crop Disaster Program: Provides financial assistance for non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters, including grass for grazing. Eligible producers must have purchased coverage for 2015. • Livestock Indemnity Program: Provides payments to eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to a disaster. • Tree Assistance Program: Provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines lost in the disaster. • Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and FarmRaised Fish Program: Provides
Family Owned and Operated Since 1956
• AUTO • HOME • MOTORCYCLES • BOATS / RV’S • COMMERCIAL We work for you. Call or stop in today and let us help you! 2032 Republic Dr. • Tyler, TX
903.581.8191
emergency relief for feed losses and or water shortages, due to a disaster. • Emergency Conservation Program: Provides emergency funding to rehabilitate land severely damaged by a natural disaster, including fencing. For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster
web page at www.fema.gov/ disaster/4245. ————— Michael Kormos is a Daily Sun staff writer. He may be reached by email at mkormos@ corsicanadailysun.com
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It’s the Law
here is a state law on the books in Colorado that makes it illegal for a sheepherder to abandon his sheep without notice. A good law, really. Since herders are often left alone on isolated ranges with their entrusted band. The owner or boss checks on him once a week or so and brings him supplies. So, it would certainly create serious consequences were the sheep to be deserted and untended for any length of time. But, to the uninformed, non-sheep people, that is, this law seems a little unclear. It could be interpreted to mean that the herder must notify his sheep before leaving them. To prevent emotional trauma, possibly, social breakdown or obscure ovine behavioral disorders. To comply with the law, he might line them up and give a sortof “going away” speech: “My fellow ewes, lambs and bucks. I have called you together to make an announcement. At approximately noon today, I intend to abandon you. “It has not been an easy decision. I lay in my camp pondering the effect it would have on the herd. I agonized over leaving something we’ve both worked so hard to establish. The caring and sincere bond we’ve
formed that has made my job such a pleasure. The chuckles we’ve had and the times we’ve cried. “I’ve asked a lot of you. At lambing, marking and shearing, not to mention the time you all got foot rot. Tough times. But you all gave it your best effort and survived. And, I think, y’all are better sheep for the experience.
“But people, just like sheep, grow and change. My needs are different, my horizons have expanded. I hope to enroll in a welding course at community college and follow my star. “I’m leaving you in good hands, or hooves, as it were. Paulita, I expect you to take over. You’ve been a strong example to the other ewes. Always first to
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water, first to new grass, and always willing to listen to the baa’s and bleatings of others. “Leadership is not an easy mantle to wear. And followers, you, too, must blindly trust your leader and follow her like...well, sheep. “You must work as a cohesive unit, sticking to the instinctive survival traits of prey, always remembering, just like in any bureaucracy, that the group is more important than the individual. It is your strength and will prevent you from becoming another fractionated, dysfunctional herd. “In conclusion, it was just my job. To protect you from predators; coyotes, the BLM, deer hunters and the like. But your gratitude is humbling. That gratitude is what I will carry with me from this day forward. Word cannot express my thanks for your overwhelming display of affection. After all, how many of us can claim to have six hundred ram lambs named Juan, in their honor.” www.baxterblack.com
Mud Creek wreaks havoc again
Heavy rains cause flooding, issues in Cherokee County
By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@jacksonvilleprogress.com
A deluge of rain the second weekend of December created havoc in Cherokee County, as roads were blocked by water that covered roadways or buckled road surfaces as foundations beneath them were washed away. According to Michael Batton, the district fire coordinator for the Texas A&M Forest Service office in Jacksonville, an accumulative 4.2 inches of rain fell between 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday evening, when the rain stopped. “And I’ve heard a little bit more fell further north,” he said from the Forest Service Loop 456 office. Cherokee County Precinct 4 Commissioner Byron Underwood said that on Saturday night, between 15 and 20 roads were closed in his precinct due to water washing over them. But, as of Monday afternoon, it was down to the usual three roads closed that have experienced problems time and time again with excess rain: CR
4223, CR 4905 and CR 4307. “Those three are closed due to Mud Creek,” which originates from Lake Tyler, he noted. “Flooding is pretty common along Mud Creek, and it’ll be those same three roads – Mud Creek is a bad, bad boy.” These Precinct 4 roads are located in the Gould community, in Ponta, and an area between Blackjack and New Summerfield, Underwood said.
In Precinct 3, CR 3802 and CR 3315 also remained closed for several days, said Pct. 3 Commissioner Katherine Pinotti, “(CR) 3802, which is near the Neches River, is underwater, and the river probably won’t even crest until tomorrow,” she said. Other Pct. 3 roads that experienced problems included: • CR 3904, which Pinotti said was peppered with silt and
other debris carried over it by rains; • CR 3315, parts of which were under water; • CR 3313, which she said had some washouts; and • CR 3901, which had a hole near a road culvert, where water washed out the ground
under the roadway. The foundation has been shored with rock and concrete, Pinotti said. Meanwhile, county workers stayed busy clearing debris – including fallen trees – from the roadway. Both Pinotti and Underwood reminded residents to be
smart as they travel in flooding conditions, and to “turn around, don’t drown.” “Don’t go past the barricades that are put up for your safety – if there aren’t any barricades, but you see water on the road, turn around,” he said.
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Kings Rein reaches out to assist By Rich Flowers
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Athens Review
roof over the head and shelter from the elements are essentials that many veterans don’t possess. Shannon DeCraene of The Kings Rein Equine Assisted Outreach in Larue recently told the Athens Kiwanis Club of efforts to help 65-year-old Vietnam War veteran Benjamin Cordero move into a dwelling all his own this Christmas. Cordero has faced many struggles in his life, and with the cold of winter coming on is without adequate housing. “He had a life, not to be a sob story, that none of us would want to live,” DeCraene said. “He was left an orphan at 4 years old.” Cordero lived in various orphanages and foster homes, but was never adopted. He aged out at 18, and at 20 went into the army during the Vietnam War. “He was honorably discharged with very severe PTSD,” DeCraene said. Because of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other issues, he struggled to keep a job. “At one point in his life, when he was living in New York, he became homeless,” DeCraene said. With dreams of living on a ranch, and becoming a cowboy, DeCraene headed for Texas, and settled in the Austin area. “He ended up getting in an organization called Mobil Loaves and Fishes that ministers to the homeless,”
DeCraene said. While working with that program, he was able to purchase a used FEMA RV. “For three years, he worked for me,” DeCraene said. “At that point, he was having some physical issues, and was having a hard time keeping up with that many horses and the farm work, so he decided to retire.” Living on his military pension and Social Security, Cordero was able to purchase a small parcel of land through the Veteran’s Land Board. The RV had no insulation or heat, and during the heavy rains earlier this year began to collapse on him. “His floor is rotted out, and he needs some kind of shelter going into winter,” DeCraene said. Cordero sought help with VA organizations and services, but “fell through the cracks,” DeCraene explained. “They don’t have any programs for people who have RVs.” With their avenues for help seemingly exhausted, DeCraene learned of a veteran’s program offered through Home Depot. Home Depot in Tyler is teaming up with Kings Rein to pull together the resources needed to make Cordero a home. TuffShed is donating the
structural shell of the building. “What they ask of us is to go out within our community, and to gain awareness and support to help with some of those things to get this thing built,” DeCraene said. Kings Rein is gathering help in the form of financial donations and materials like flooring, fixtures, cabinetry, lumber, drywall and paint. The Cowboy Church and Life Fellowship Church of Athens are combining efforts to provide time and talent in areas such as licensed
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electricians, plumbers, construction tradesman, painters, drywall, dirt work and other needs. You can contact DeCraene at 903-714-0830, or by e-mail at info@ thekingsrein.org. Kings Rein is a non-profit that helps restore mental and emotional health to people through its horses and volunteers. The organization is faith-based, and demonstrates the power of love through acceptance and encouragement.
hy A Horse? The relationship between participants and their horses is the foundation for healing. The building of this relationship helps participants overcome fears and develop trust. The primary reason we use horses in our program is that a horse will react or respond to a person’s behavior in much the same way that another person will. But a horse responds only to what a person is doing in the present, rather than what he or she did in the past or what he or she may do in the future. As participants take personal responsibility for the outcomes in their relationships with their horses, they begin to understand how their thoughts, feelings and behaviors affect all their other relationships.
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ur Approach The activities employed on any given day are based on the individual or group, their capabilities, needs and desires. The outreach is about experiencing healing through relationship. We merely use horses as a conduit to connect human-tohuman and heart-to-heart. Program Elements • Equine Safety & Care • Natural Horsemanship Principals & Skills • Ground work • Riding • Crafts & Games • Fishing • Hiking Trails • Food & Fellowship
Texas A&M Forest Service issues winter outlook and safety tips December 16, 2015 - College Station, Texas
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wet winter may be in store, but the threat of wildfire still exists. The current El Niño conditions drop the threat of wildfire to below normal, however Texas A&M Forest Service urges caution this holiday season. “Fireworks and outdoor fires are usually associated with this time of year,” Jan Amen, fire prevention specialist said. “It’s important to be careful, because one spark can cause a devastating fire.” Although much of the state received above normal rainfall — which suppressed fires for most of the year — the rain increased the
amount of grass present, which can serve as fuel for a wildfire start. “Awareness of this threat is a key safety concern for this winter,” Tom Spencer, Predictive Services department head said. Abundant fuels can increase fire size and make wildfire more difficult to control. Spencer also said that even though the ground is wet, the grass above the ground can still catch fire which may spread quickly if conditions are windy. Texas A&M Forest Service offers the following tips for the holidays: • Check for and obey burn bans and fireworks restrictions. • Adhere to all county and city fireworks laws.
• Read firework labels and use only as instructed. Do not alter the products. • Use fireworks only with adult supervision and only outdoors away from dry grass and buildings. • Allow fireworks to cool completely before handling and discard them into a bucket of water. • When and where outdoor burning is allowed, keep the fire small, never leave it unattended and remove leaves and other material from the area surrounding the fire. Avoid lighting piles on windy days. • Keep water, wet towels and a garden hose nearby. A spark or burning ember can ignite dry, fine-textured fuels like grass and weeds.
• Properly watering your live Christmas tree and promptly disposing of it after the holidays reduces the chance of a house fire. • Remove your natural Christmas tree soon after the holidays and consider community tree recycling projects. • Dispose of wrapping paper, boxes and other holiday waste by recycling, when practical. Burn paper and cardboard in a burn barrel or fire-proof receptacle topped by a metal screen or grill, as winds can carry embers over long distances. The winter weather outlook is now available and daily fire danger outlooks can be found on the Predictive Services page.
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Another Whopper
ET hunter brings down trophy class 11 pointer in Cherokee County By Matt Williams Outdoors Writer
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ric Warren of Wells didn’t have to think twice before he pulled the trigger on the big 11 pointer. He and his uncle had assembled a small collection of game camera photographs of the deer and there was no question they were looking at a good one. With tall tines and gobs of mass, the buck with chocolate-colored antlers had taken a liking to their 1,200-acre lease in Cherokee County. “We had never seen this deer before,” Warren said. “He just showed up out of nowhere a couple of weeks before the season opened. My uncle and I had pictures of him at different stands. Both of us were after him.” Warren said he took his son hunting on youth weekend, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, in hopes that the youngster might get a shot at the buck, but the timing wasn’t right. The free-ranging deer showed up his uncle’s stand instead. “My uncle watched him graze around his stand for about 1 1/2 hours, but couldn’t shoot,” Warren chuckled. The following weekend brought wet weather to eastern Texas but it didn’t put a damper on magical powers of the rut. That’s the word used to describe the
whitetail’s mating season. It’s that brief period each fall when a mature buck throws caution to the wind and is prone to make stupid mistakes all the name of impressing a lady. To hear Warren tell it, that’s exactly what happened shortly after 9 a.m. on the morning of Nov. 7, opening day of the current deer season. The buck showed up in one of his shooting lanes on the heels of a hot doe, and it was plain to see he had only one thing his mind. “He was chasing her all over the place for about 15 minutes,” he said. “At one point I thought I had lost him. He chased her into the woods, so I grunted and whistled. That’s when he stepped back out in the open.” Warren dropped the buck with single shot at 100 yards. The hunter said he has not yet had the buck scored for the Texas Big Game Awards Program, but the main frame 10 pointer has been rough scored at 163 7/8 gross typical. It is sure to be one of top scoring typical bucks reported in eastern Texas this season and among the best ever reported rom Cherokee County. Matt Williams is a freelance writer based Courtesy Photo in Nacogdoches. He can Eric Warren of Wells with the impressive 11 pointer he shot on opening day on be reached by e-mail, his 1,200 acre lease in Cherokee County. The buck has been rough scored at mattwillwrite4u@yahoo. 163 7/8 B&C as a main frame 10 pointer. com.
Courtesy Photo Warren and his uncle had collected a series of game camera photographs of the big buck prior to the season opener. This one clearly depicts the buck’s magnificent antlers.
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Ferel hogs big problem for Texas Special to the Jacksonville Daily Progress
By Chad Gulley Smith County Extension Agent
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eral Hogs are a big problem in Texas. Feral hogs can be invasive to a landowner’s property and cause extensive damage to fields, lawns, gardens, and crops. So, what are some options as we approach white-tailed deer season? eral hogs are not a game or non-game species in Texas. Instead, feral hogs are considered exotic livestock as described in Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Section 1.101(4) and Texas Agriculture Code 161.001(a) [4]. Because of this distinction, they fall under the ownership of the landowner and not the citizens of the state according to the Texas Agriculture Code Section 161.002. White-tailed deer season is fast approaching. Feeding stations for landowners wanting to view or hunt white-tailed deer are being put out. Landowners wanting to have deer but exclude feral hogs have options. Research conducted several years ago by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service found that
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fencing around feeding stations can be effect. Fencing around feeding stations at 20 inches high reduced feral hog access while fencing at 28 and 34 inches high kept feral hogs out of the feeding station completely. Feral hogs diets change. They are omnivores meaning they eat both plants and animals. They are also opportunistic meaning they will consume an easy, quick meal when possible especially around feeding stations. Feral hogs have poor eyesight but excellent senses of hearing and smell. Their specially developed snouts are flattened and strengthened by a plate of cartilage, which allows them to root in all types of soil. Other effective options for controlling feral hog damage are using traps. Traps can be built as big as the landowner needs to take out large numbers of hogs in an area. Traps today with use of remote sensing cameras can be an effective means of controlling these hogs. When trapping feral hogs, patience is a virtue. It may take several days to several weeks of using remote sensing cameras with traps wired open to get the hogs readily coming into the trap area. Trap design is important for success of removing groups of hogs. Once the hogs are being seen on camera entering the trap consistently, the trap can be set
and the entire sounder may be captured. Be sure to follow all Texas Parks and Wildlife and Texas Animal Health Commission Rules when dealing with feral hogs. The Texas Animal Health Commission has rules for transporting live feral hogs. It is illegal to release feral hogs onto other property in Texas. Feral hogs can be transported to approved Texas Animal Health
Commission facilities. For locations of approved facilities, contact the TAHC at 1-800-5508242. For more information on this and other feral hogs information, access the following website at http://feralhogs.tamu.edu/ . Research based educational publications and more can be found at this website. Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.
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A boot-shaking good time Longhorn Dance Hall... Bringing country & western dance back to Palestine By Haley Hoar
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news@palestineherald.com
ooking for a place to two-step, line dance or just enjoy a night out on the dance floor to live music? Palestine is now home to a live performance dance hall with a love for country and western music. Longhorn Dance Hall, located at 515 McNeil Street, offers residents a place for entertainment and dancing without driving to another city. “There’s nothing like this out here,” Dennis R. Bell Jr., general manager said. “Right now, if you want to go to a country music or western style dance club or even a good live venue, you’ve got to drive to at least Tyler.” The Palestine dance hall, opened in August with a grand opening on Aug. 21, featuring Randy Travis according
to Bell. Since then, the club has hosted many live bands and entertainment to bring a western feel to the club culture. “We wanted to bring back country and western dance and bring live venue to town,” Bell said. “We bring in some really great performers. Some of the same bands that I’ve got ready to line up, are the same bands that are playing the Silver Saloon in Terrell and playing Cowboys in Red River.” “We’re doing live bands every Friday and Saturday night,” he said. “There’s nobody out here that does a live band every weekend, and a lot of these artists that I have coming in are up and coming artists. They actually have CD’s that are being played on the radio.” Not only a dance hall, Longhorn offers a full bar and meals such as ribs and other grilled items. Bell said they hope to expand their menu to include hamburgers and sides as the venue grows. In true country and western club fashion, the Longhorn Dance Hall plans to ring in the New Year with Rickey Lynn Gregg. The club will be open from 8 p.m. to 2 p.m. with a cover charge of $20 per person or $30 per couple. The kitchen will be serving black eyed
peas and corn bread as well as sausage and cabbage in the kitchen. Party favors and champagne will be available for the countdown. Guests must be at least 18 years of age or older to enter Longhorn, and those younger than 21 will be tagged. The club is open Thursday through Saturday 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. with a $10 cover charge for Friday and Saturday nights. They are open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday’s as well. Open Thursday through Sunday, Longhorn offers entertainment for many different styles, whether it’s open mic night on Thursday, live bands on Friday and Saturday or the Veterans appreciation luncheon on Sunday afternoon. “I had one of my friends call and tell me that we’re being matched up with clubs like Southern Junction, Silver Saloon, Electric Cowboy and Coaches and Cowboys,” Bell said. “They’re putting us up on that level and that’s exactly what we want to do.” Upcoming bands and dates can be found on the dance hall’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LonghornDancehall.
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December 2015-January 2016 Support Agriculture Businesses... They Are the Heartbeat of Our Economy.
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Mouse Patrol M
erry Christmas Y’all, Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Seems like just yesterday I was thinking of what I would put on my wish list. Course I was and still am such a lucky pup that I don’t really need anything. But I bet there’s a big chewie under that tree anyway since I go through those things so quickly. Last year there was one so big that it took me almost a week to finish it off. This will be my first Christmas without my ol furry friend, Mr.P. I remember how that first one when I was just a pup he told me to steer clear of the tree, the decorations and the stuff in sacks under it or risk getting sprayed with water. Since he had been here for a long time I figured he knew what he was talking about so I did just that. Then one Christmas he couldn’t be found and was asleep hidden away among the gifts. He sure had a grumpy look on his face too when the camera flash woke him up. He looked at me and said,” What, haven’t you ever seen a cat under a tree before?”. Anyway, I hope whatever was on your list was under the tree on Christmas morn. Next I’ll be wishing everyone a Happy New Year. And I’ll be seven years old in 2016. How
can that be! Before I know it I’ll be needing help getting in and out of the Ranger. I’ll be walking more than running and my hair will go gray. Yikes! Guess I’d better enjoy every day as it comes along and not worry about things like that. You know I’m sure am glad that there’s a bunch of young bulls in the field behind my house. Why you might ask? Well, they get fed every morning in two big troughs and they often leave a few morsels for me to scarf up after they mosey off for hay and water. Nothing beats a little snack of leftover bull feed. You might like it if you gave it a try. I’ve developed a real taste for the stuff, but I need to be careful with my snacking cause it’s designed to pack on the pounds and I want to keep my girlish figure. Oh, it seems I’m not so OCD after all about squirrels. The proof was running amok in the backyard yesterday stealing pecans. Usually when I run in circles and bark at that pecan tree my folks tell me nothing’s there so chill. But they finally saw the fluffy tailed varmit too. I thought,” At least someone saw that thing other than me. I’ve been trying to “tell’ you it was there all along” Course I don’t know what I can do about the
little thief. I can’t be on guard duty 24-7 so I guess Mr.Sq. will continue pecan stealing and I’ll continue running around barking at that tree. Saw a new critter the other morning on our walk. At first I thought it was just a big buzzard like ol Meathead. You remember him don’t you? He’s the one I actually bumped into a while back cause his eyesight wasn’t so good anymore. And
EAST TEXAS ANDERSON CO. LIVESTOCK Updated: 12/23/2015
that caused him to fly into the dead tree, hurt his wing and give himself a concussion. Well, this new bird had no trouble flying as I chased him down the road. He landed in a tree close by and when my folks got to that spot they looked up and said,” Hey, that’s an owl”. They went on to say that those big birds are not usually seen very often in daytime. Seems they like to hunt at night. Anyway from the look on his face I got the feeling I could be a snack if I hung around very long. I got antsy and indicated we should be going cause we were burning daylight. The other day while I was trying to guard the pecan tree from that squirrel, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. It was small, gray brown and very fast. The little varmit ran and hid behind the firewood Mama had just stacked on the patio. I sniffed and sniffed trying to get to it, but all I did was upset the stack of wood. Mama heard the commotion and came out and saw firewood everywhere . “Kodi, what are you after?”. Just then the little thing made it’s escape off the patio and out into the pasture. She said,”It’s only a little mouse, nothing to worry about. And leave the wood stacked
STOCK PRICES EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC. Updated: 12/15/2015 Cows: 132 Bulls: 9 Buyers: 62 Sellers: 129
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $215-$295 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $178-$222 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $165-$208 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $160-$180 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $135-$152 HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $200-$290 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $172-$214 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $148-$182 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $143-$165 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $123-$140
First Sale of 2016 will be Wednesday, January 6th.
TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 12/19/2015 Head Count: 1234 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.75-$2.30 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.65-$2.05 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.50-$1.97 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.50-$1.85 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.40-$1.65 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.35-$1.40 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.60-$2.15 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.45-$1.52 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.40-$1.55 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.45-$1.50 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.10-$1.40 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.05-$1.30 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $45 - $74.50 Heavy Bulls: $78 - $86
Pairs: $2000 - $3700 Stocker Cows: $1000 - $2275 Baby Calves: $175 - $250
like I had it,OK”. Now I remember that mice were under Little Bit and Mr.P’s job descriptions. Well LB’s anyway. Mr.P used to hunt now and then, but watching the inside of his eyelids was what he excelled at. Anyway, I guess that duty will now be added to my list of things I’m responsible for. Where’s a cat when you need one? I’ve already got lots to do. I mean being head of security, guarder of the pecan tree, daily checks of ‘my girls’, keeping the young bulls in line, golf cart protector now and then, traveling companion and now mouse patrol. I’m up for the extra work, but I hope nothing else gets added on anytime soon. It’s good to be busy, but a pups got to have some down time too. Well, if I don’t see you before 2016 rolls around –Happy New Year! It’s a while yet, but never too early to start thinking about a birthday present for yours truly. Don’t know if there’s a special gift for the ‘big seven’, but you know how I love popcorn. Your friend, Kodi
SLAUGHTER Cows: $53-$80 Bulls: $75-$88 PAIRS NO TEST
BRED COWS $1450 - $1900/hd NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EX. Updated: 12/24/2015
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
First Sale of 2016 will be Thursday, January 7th.
HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE Updated: 12/7/2015 Head Count: 771 huntlivestockexchange.com STEERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.25-$2.53 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.40-$2.40 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.20-$2.15 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.20-$1.83 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.25-$1.61 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.19-$1.51 lb HEIFERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.80-$2.11 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.49-$2.20 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.20-$2.00 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.20-$1.65 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.25-$1.50 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.15-$1.30 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.36 - $0.84 lb Bulls: $0.65 - $0.81 lb
PAIRS Pairs: $800-$2,600 Stocker Cows: $475-$2,025 Baby Calves: $200-$400
ATHENS COMMISSION CO. Updated: 12/18/2015 Head Count: 713 Sellers: 131 Sale EVERY Friday At 11am
STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.50-$2.70 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.40-$2.45 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.30-$2.15 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.20-$1.85 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.50-$2.50 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.40-$2.25 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.30-$1.95 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.20-$1.75 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.40 - $0.78 lb Heavy Bulls: $0.70-$0.88 lb
PAIRS Top: $2000 - $2400 Low Middle: $1250 - $2000 Stocker Cows: $0.75 - $2.25 lb Baby calves: $20 - $450 hd Horses: $50 - $500 hd Goats: $35 - $150 hd
This report is a GUIDE only. It is provided to show market trends and is NOT INFLATED to deceive pro ducers or the general public.
Gone Fishing with Jerry Miller
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Support Agriculture Businesses... They Are the Heartbeat of Our Economy.
December 2015-January 2016
Fall Fishing is Fading T
he fall fishing season is coming to an end. We’ve experienced some unusual warm weather for December, and the surface temperature has been hovering around 60°F. Bass have been very active in the shallows. I’m still finding bass in the back of coves, but this will soon change as fall fades into winter. One day last week I found the bass feeding in the back of Byrd Branch on Lake Jacksonville. In about two hours I caught and released about a dozen bass up to two pounds. My two largest bass were caught on a Nichols’ gold, black back Rattle Shad. These bass were caught just outside of the lily pads in the rear of the cove. There were also a group of bass on the shallow flat about 50 yards up from the pads. I located other bass further out the cove holding on the first drop in about five feet of water. A medium size crank bait triggered these bass to bite. I also fished a Denny Brauer craw crank bait around a rocky area and caught a couple of bass.
One other morning I fished the north end of Lake Jacksonville and found a concentration of bass holding on the edge of a flat in about four to five feet deep. I actually saw a few bass strike shad on the surface. That day a Nichols’ gold, black back Rattle Shad was my go-to bait, along with a Strike King suspended crank bait in a chrome Sexy Shad. I also caught two of my bass on an Umbrella rig. The bass I found were in a relatively small area. They were feeding on shad and a fast moving Rattle Shad produced most of the bass. I continued to work one area from about 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. By switching back and forth with these lures I was able to entice more strikes. By the end of December cold weather will settle in and bait fish and bass will migrate out of the coves and head for their deeper winter haunts. By January you should see bass moving out to the 25 to 35 foot range off of main lake flats. Most of the winter fishing will be concentrated from the boat landing up
11
to the dam on Lake Jacksonville. In the winter you look for big concentrations of shad and the bass will be very near. A lot of my winter fishing is usually between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to about 2:00 p.m. On a warm sunny day the bass tend to rise up to the surface. On some occasions I’ve seen bass school on the surface around noontime. We’re supposed to get a lot of rain this year, so some of our lakes like Lake Nacogdoches will muddy up. Cold muddy water makes for tough fishing. Bass usually bury up in the heaviest cover under these conditions. I really like the warmer days we’ve had. Under these conditions you can tie on a fast moving Rattle Shad and cover a lot of water. Eventually you should run into a group of bass that are looking for an easy meal. ------------------------------Jerry Miller may be contacted at: gonefishing2@suddenlink.net
Texan clinches world rodeo title Special to the Athens Review
T
revor Brazile, who resides in the North Texas town of Decatur, clinched a record 13th world allaround title at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Brazile secured the 2015 all-around buckle after finishing in the money in tiedown roping in Round 6 on Dec. 8. After winning that round with a stunning time of 6.6 seconds, Brazile became a frontrunner in the tie-down roping world title race. Brazile entered the NFR’s closing performance on Saturday, Dec. 12, ranked No. 1 in the tie-down roping world standings. But he dropped to No. 2 after turning in a sluggish time of 13.9 seconds in the NFR’s 10th round. Caleb Smidt, who is from the South Texas town of Bellville, turned in a solid time of 7.9 seconds in Round 10 and clinched his first world title. Smidt also won the average with a 10-run time of 80.7 as the NFR concluded its 10-day run Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. After the dust settled, Smidt finished No. 1 in the tie-down roping world race with $242,354. Brazile finished with $228,054. Brazile also competed at the National Finals in team roping heading with partner Patrick Smith. Brazile finished the year ranked fourth in the heading world standings with $191,959. Smith, a twotime world champion, finished fifth in the heeling world title race with $191,959. After clinching the 2015 world all-
around title at the NFR, Brazile has earned 13 world all-around titles, six more than Ty Murray of Stephenville who has seven. All in all, Brazile, 39, has a record 23 gold buckles, the record for the most Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world championships. “It was a fairy tale to win one world title, so it just keeps getting better,” Brazile said. Brazile won world all-around titles in 2002-2004 and 2006-15. He also has lassoed six gold buckles in steer roping (20062007, 2011 and 2013-2015), three tie-down roping championships (2007, 2009-10) and one team roping heading title (2010). In the 2015 world all-around standings,
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Brazile finished No. 1 with $518,010, a PRCA annual earnings record. Roper JoJo LeMond of Andrews finished No. 2 with $261,280. LeMond earned $117,403 at the NFR in team roping heading while partnering with heeler Junior Nogueira. LeMond finished seventh in the heading world title race with $188,207. Other 2015 world champions were Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., bareback riding; Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, steer wrestling; Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz., team roping heading; Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla., team roping heeling; Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas, saddle bronc riding, Callie DuPerier, Boerne, Texas, barrel racing; and Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., bull riding. In bareback riding, Peebles won his first world tile after tying for first place in the 10th round with a score of 83.5 points. Peebles, who won the average after finishing with a 10-ride score of 832.5, dethroned Kaycee Feild who has won the gold buckle the past four years. Peebles earned $224,054 throughout the National Finals and finished as the rodeo’s highest money winner. Peebles entered the National Finals in 14th place. But after earning the $224,054, he finished the year ranked No. 1 with $314,149. Feild finished No. 2 in the world race with $303,616. Evan Jayne, a former Sam Houston State star who lives in Rockwall, also competed at the NFR in bareback riding. Jayne, a native of France, earned $43,788 at the NFR and finished ninth in the world title race with $146,808. Cody Teel, another former Sam Houston star who lives in the South Texas town of Koontze, won the bull riding average. Teel
pocketed $185,730 at the NFR and finished the year ranked second in the world title race with $278,748. Colby Lovell, a Huntsville native who lives in Madisonville, earned $99,423 the NFR in team roping heading while roping with heeling partner, Kory Koontz. Lovell finished the year ranked sixth in team roping heading with $188,253. Cutting horse update A stallion named Stevie Rey Von and rider Ed Dufurrena of Gainesville, Texas, won the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity open division title after turning in a finals score of 225 on Saturday, Dec. 12, in Fort Worth. Dufurrena, who also owns the 3-year-old horse, earned the coveted $200,000 prize. Bet Shes Smooth and Lindy Burch of Weatherford, Texas, finished second with a 221. In the Futurity non-pro finals on Thursday, Dec. 10, Armando Costa Neto won the title with a finals score of 224. The filly’s owner, Barrinha LLC of Weatherford, Texas, earned $27,852. Top NFR stock Two Frontier Rodeo Co. broncs won the NFR Top Stock awards. They were bareback bronc Full Baggage and saddle bronc Medicine Woman. A bovine named Bruiser, owned by the D&H Cattle Co., was the NFR’s top bull. Frontier Rodeo Co., which is managed by Jerry Nelson of Winnie, Texas, also won the PRCA’s 2015 Stock Contractor of the Year award. Brett Hoffman, a Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame member, has written a rodeo column for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram over the past quarter-century. Email him at HYPERLINK “mailto:bchoffman777@ earthlink.net”bchoffman777@earthlink.net.
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