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Mercer University recently announced the President’s List and Dean’s List for the spring 2021 semester. Inclusion on these lists requires students to meet rigorous GPA standards specific to the college or school within the University.

Local students graduated from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, in Spring 2021. MSU Texas awarded degrees to 653 undergraduate and graduate students. Honor graduates receiving bachelor degrees included 62 summa cum laude, 79 magna cum laude, and 103 cum laude. Honor requirements are a grade point average of 3.9-4.0 for summa cum laude, 3.7-3.89 for magna cum laude, and 3.5-3.69 for cum laude. Additionally, 16 students completed the Redwine Honors Program. Honor graduates are designated in the list below.

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden invites the community to celebrate the nation’s birthday all weekend long from July 2-4, 2021. On July 4, the first 100 guests receive a free American flag as they enter the garden. The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden has many themed activities and events for the children. Food specials include $2 hot dogs and root beer floats at the Terrace Café, and guests are welcome to pack their own picnic.

Farmers markets have grown in popularity in recent years. Nowadays, consumers interested in farmers markets can likely find one near their homes whether those homes are in rural communities, the suburbs or bustling cities.

Saturday, June 19, brought beautiful, sunny skies, some nice breezes, and just the right weather for a CARWASH to benefit the Forney Layden Senior Center. The official starting time for the “wash” was 10:00 a. m., but volunteers, such as Warren Middle School National Honor Society Members and various other Center staff members and volunteers, were on site already much earlier, busily preparing.

Lockdowns from the pandemic have led to some unexpected economic consequences, one of which has been a surge in lumber prices. Sawmills shut down at the onset of the pandemic, while Americans across the country – forced to work from home – found the time and energy to remodel, renovate and, in many cases, relocate. The result has been a case study in forest economics. Demand for lumber went up, but supply went down: consequently, costs have skyrocketed over 300%.

Cornyn is not the first Texas lawmaker to take similar steps toward celebrating Juneteenth. On Monday, U.S. Rep.

In preparation for the 2021-2022 athletic and cheer season, the varsity and junior varsity (JV) cheerleading squads from North Forney High School attended the National Cheerleading Association (NCA) summer training camp on June 3-6, 2021 at Southern Methodist University, (SMU). While at camp, both teams learned a variety of new cheers, chants and dance material, participated in team building activities, perfected stunting technique, and participated in a number of daily evaluations and a final camp competition.

The Texas Legislature has gone home, and Gov. Greg Abbott — who’ll be seeking reelection next year — has returned to the top concern of the state’s Republican voters: immigration and border security.

“Just like children imitate their parents, Jesus imitated His Father,” says Holly, 12. “We are the children of God. We can be loving, patient, caring and compassionate and have the love of God in our hearts.”

The 87th Legislative Session adjourned delivering major conservative victories despite the unprecedented challenges that were brought by the pandemic and winter storm Uri. Critical issues were addressed this session while passing meaningful legislation, including pro-life victories, expanding our 2nd Amendment rights, and fully funding public education.

The Senate approved legislation that would require weatherization of critical energy facilities and completely overhaul the management and oversight structure of the organization that oversees the state electric grid. In a session that looked to be dominated by other concerns, the February winter storm put the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) at the top of the agenda. “We thought it was going to be COVID, it was going to be a budget that didn’t have enough money in it, and all these things,” said Brenham Senator Lois Kolkhorst. “Unbeknownst to us, in the middle of February we found ourselves in one of the greatest crises, I believe, that our state has ever seen. A grid that almost had a meltdown that could’ve kept us in the dark for weeks and months.”

The following area students received degrees during the 2021 Spring semester at Sam Houston State University.