by Dan Eakin For years I have been saying that police officers go to war every day. They never know what a day may bring or what they may face when they stop a vehicle or go to a home where violence has been reported.

The agency that operates the power grid for much of the state asked Texans to conserve energy use several times last week as the grid was beset with high demand and low wind-power generation, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Texas public student scores in standardized testing continue to improve since the pandemic, but more than half of those taking the test still struggle with math and just under half read below grade-level, the Texas Tribune reported.

I can still hear my dad saying, “This is going to hurt me more than it does you.” He was never angry but disappointed and calm as he would raise his belt, busting my hiny in disciplining me for breaking family and God’s rules. After the discipline I could see the troubling in his soul as his countenance marked by facial expressions and tears in his eyes, would drastically change. My dad would hug me and tell me “Son, I love you” encouraging me to change my behavior.

by Dan Eakin I realize that I am not a resident of Kountze and I have only been in Southeast Texas for about six and a half months. However, I have covered hundreds of city council meetings in the last 60 years so I think I have a right to an opinion, and maybe a suggestion.

Forecasters for the National Weather Service are anticipating a more active hurricane season this year because of record-warm ocean surface temperatures, the Texas Tribune reported. Hurricane season runs through the end of November.

On August 10, 2023, Qualified Mental Health Professionals Kris Whitmire and Ashley Pena along with Mental Health Deputies Tom Lee and Stephen Hinton visited with defendants in the County Court of Hardin County, Texas with Judge Wayne McDaniel presiding. The Spindletop (ASAP) court program involves helping criminal defendants connect legal issues to their mental health needs, substance use disorders or lack of community support through resources and local services.

This real life hawk snake “double strike” from the sky is the rare misfortune where Nature has not been deliberately antagonized into striking back. The battling hawk-snake duo dropped from the skies and exacted harm on an innocent woman mowing her lawn (Snakes Alive, 9 Aug).

My name is Dan. I am a Dr Pepper holic.

An unprecedented number of child care centers are expected to close across the state as pandemic relief funding ends, the Texas Standard reported. A survey conducted by the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children of about 1,600 child care programs indicated 44% were likely to close their doors without additional funding. Federal pandemic relief funds ended for most centers in June.