The latest report on child maltreatment fatalities and near fatalities, compiled by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, indicates 251 children in Texas died in fiscal year 2020 due to abuse and neglect. That figure includes 28 children who died after being left unattended in hot vehicles.
Fort Picketville was located in Stephens County and was the first known settlement in what would become Stephens County. According to historical records, it was founded in about 1854 or earlier and was originally located on Duck Creek, which would be re-named Gunsolus Creek, to honor one of the earliest settlers at Picketville, Dr. Peter Gunsolus.
The Senate on Wednesday advanced two of Lt. Governor Dan Patrick’s top priorities: a bill to increase broadband access to underserved regions of the state and one that supporters say is necessary to protect peoples’ faith in the electoral process.
Easter is one of those holidays which probably started out very serious. Church, candles, singing, processions, somber services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, then Easter lilies and eggs on Sunday morning. Over the years it has gone from Holy, Holy to “Holy-Moley … that Easter Bunny walks like Uncle Fred.”
When Camp Cooper closed in Feb. 1861, Union troops were withdrawn from the entire Frontier Defense system, which served several families in this area of the Western Frontier along the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, in what is now northern Shacklelford County, southern Throckmorton County and northwestern Stephens County.
Texas has received billions in federal aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic and could receive billions more in the coming weeks, but Senate Finance Committee Chair and Flower Mound Senator Jane Nelson told members of her committee Wednesday that there are still more questions than answers regarding the aid package created through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). “There are so many misconceptions out there,” she told members. “We’re still working through the guidance on federal funds that were approved during the previous administration, we’re just starting that process for the dollars that will be coming to Texas under [ARPA].”
Spring has sprung ... or so they say. Around here, we aren’t worrying about a few weeds. After the ten days of zero-ish weather, we are just glad to see a little green. I joined many townspeople this afternoon when I ventured out to break a few limbs, scratch a few stems, and say a few prayers over the bushes and trees in my yard.
On the Stephens County Courthouse lawn is a Historical marker for Camp Breckenridge, but few county residents know much about this encampment which was located on the Gunsolus Creek, six miles above the confluence with Hubbard Creek, which is near Crystal Falls, in northern Stephens County.
Arthur D’Andrea, the chair and sole remaining member of the Public Utility Commission, resigned late last week at the request of Gov. Gregg Abbott. D’Andrea pledged to remain on the PUC until Abbott names a replacement. In the announcement Abbott said in part, “Texans deserve to have trust and confidence in the Public Utility Commission, and this action is one of many steps that will be taken to achieve that goal.”
I want to say a little prayer for the people who will be looking after all those boys who are going to be staying in the Dallas Convention Center while they are relocated to family members and foster care here in the United States. Most of them are between twelve and fifteen. Oh, my.
