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TEXAS A&M

The Texas State Tree, Health Nut, and Pie: Pecan

Texas pecan lore was captured in a lengthy 1964 entry in the Congressional Record by U.S. Sen. Ralph Yarborough, who cited the writings of a Texas A&M horticulturalist and professor Fred Brison. “Pecan growing is a way of life for those who love trees,” said Brison, who taught a course on pecans. “The trees herald the spring with bursting buds, with beautiful rosettes of developing pecan clusters, 25,000 on one tree, comparable in beauty to a giant Christmas tree.” Yarborough’s entry also referred to Texas Gov. Jim Hogg’s 1906 burial directive—“I want no monument of stone or marble, but plant at my head a pecan tree—prior to the 1919 resolution establishing it as the state tree. The enterprising research of teacher Mary Mikeska’s students contributed to the 2013 Legislature’s recognition of pecan pie as our state pie, which are “hands-down the best, especially when made with Texas pecans by a Texan.” As recounted in the Houston Chronicle, the youngsters traveled to Austin to lobby a Senate committee with slices of pecan pie.

texashighways.com

Picking up speed: TRAIN program announces partnerships

Through the Hub’s TRAIN program, local community members receive the necessary training to go to be able to fill local industry jobs. Partnering with local schools is another aspect of the TRAIN program. County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. said it’s an opportunity for county employees to enhance current skills plus learn new ones, which will benefit the county and prepare employees for other job opportunities countywide. Treviño conceded the new training could enable some county employees to seek employment elsewhere, but said it’s worthwhile in the long run. That is why the Texas A&M System is so deeply dedicated to communities of the Rio Grande Valley and the TRAIN program.”

myrgv.com

Follow the Flames!

I know what you are NOT thinking: in exactly three weeks, we’ll have the end of summer and Meteorological FALL begins! Never mind the autumnal equinox, for the sake of record keeping and climate data, summer is June-August while fall is September-November. Regardless, September is when we begin to see significant changes, especially with those first fall fronts and October is when we experience really beautiful weather--crisp, blue skies and comfortable temperatures. EXCEPT, we can also get very windy around here as dry cold fronts move off the Rockies. And if we don’t get some significant rains soon, then that combination of dry and windy could spread wildfires quickly. You might recall last October when the Houston National Weather Service put out this tweet on what was an otherwise beautiful day:

'We're done': A&M's Fisher fires back at 'narcissist' Saban

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher called Nick Saban a “narcissist” Thursday after the Alabama coach made “despicable” comments about the Aggies using name, image and likeness deals to land their top-ranked recruiting classes. Saban called out Texas A&M on Wednesday night for “buying” players. “I know the consequence is going to be difficult for the people who are spending tons of money to get players,” Saban said while speaking at an event in Birmingham, Alabama, to promote the World Games being held there in July.

news.yahoo.com