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The Mabank High School percussion section competed in the Gulf Coast Classic at Lamar University in Beaumont on Saturday, Nov. 9. They took second place in their 3A class!

WEATHER WARNING!

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES

HENDERSON-MILLS-HAMILTON-BOSQUE-HILL-NAVARRO-FREESTONE-ANDERSON-LAMPASAS-CORYELL-BELL-MCLENNAN-FALLS-LIMESTONE-LEON-MILAM-ROBERTSON-
1020 AM CDT TUE OCT 15 2013

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING…

* WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL WILL OCCUR THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES WITH SOME ISOLATED HIGHER TOTALS ARE EXPECTED.
PREVIOUS HEAVY RAINFALL THIS PAST WEEKEND HAS RESULTED IN WET SOILS ACROSS THE WATCH AREA WHICH WILL RESULT IN EXCESSIVE RUNOFF.

* EXCESSIVE RUNOFF MAY LEAD TO FLOODING OF CREEKS…SMALL STREAMS…DRY CREEK BEDS…POOR DRAINAGE AREAS…LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND SOME POOR DRAINING URBAN STREETS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR HEAVY RAIN WHICH MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. YOU SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.

(Thank you to Chris Schwantes for the heads up.)

On Saturday, Oct. 5, at 5:30 p.m. at the East Texas Arboretum in Athens there will be a Henderson County Veterans Memorial Benefit “Music for the Monument.” There will be music, good food, and a raffle. All money raised goes to the fund for maintenance, insurance, future expansion, and security. There will be Rock-n-Roll selections from the Sharks and others. Admission is free. Bring a lawn chair and join the fun.

It is almost time to Walk Like MADD. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19, in Gun Barrel City.

WALK like MADD is Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s signature walk event. In more than 60 cities around the nation, thousands of people will participate in 5K events to celebrate creating a brighter future without drunk driving and underage drinking.

There were more than 1,200 DUI deaths in Texas in 2012, which accounted for 40 percent of all traffic deaths in the state for the year.

“It is obvious we need to keep proclaiming the MADD message against drinking and driving,” said this year’s event chairman, Jeff Weinstein. “For almost 30 years, I have devoted my life to helping accident victims recover from their injuries, both physical and emotional. In that time, I have seen many unfortunate events, most of which could have been avoided if not for the carelessness of another.”

You can sign up to help us take a stand against drinking and driving. Just click the link to sign up to walk, make a donation, or be a sponsor.

By Michael V. Hannigan

After five days of the SNAP Challenge, I have called an end to the experiment. Technically, Jeff and I were supposed to go through the weekend, but after a really long week, I want to be done.

Jeff was ready to finish out, but my family has some weekend plans I want to enjoy. I admit it: I bailed out.

But five days was long enough to learn two important facts:

1. I can live on only $4.80 a day for food and drink.

2. I don’t want to.

Which also answers, for me at least, two of the big questions that started this challenge for us. Is the food stamp allowance a pittance as some have said, or is it a luxury as others say?

I say the answers are no and no.

I have written elsewhere that with planning, cooking, and controlled portions, you can do OK on SNAP.

But it also means no restaurants and little in between snacks …. and I REALLY wanted an unsweet Arnold Palmer (half tea, half lemonade). I have had nothing but water or coffee for 5 days.

So I was ready to be done, and yes I know that proves that I was never living the same life as the folks who are really on SNAP — I didn’t have any skin in the game, as Jeff says. I accept that criticism.

But five days were enough for me.

Thanks for the conversation this week … we didn’t come to any answers other than education is the key, but we will continue doing things to try and spark the debate.