COLLEGE STATION – Any Texan can collect rainwater and save it to use for all non-potable household water needs, increasing water-use efficiency around the home. RAINWATER HARVEST -- A rain chain is a decorative element that can hang from the edge of a roof to direct rainwater down into a barrel below. PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE“Plus,…

By Susan HimesTexas A&M AgriLife MediaRelations Specialist Livestock guardian dogs are rockstars in the canine world, even if most people never see them perform live. These unique animals are so important to the ranching industry that the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo created an entire program dedicated to these…

By Steven Daugherty Each year, the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC) actively promotes The Great American Smokeout, a nationwide event aimed at decreasing tobacco use and raising awareness about the devastating impact of smoking on our health. This campaign plays a pivotal role in preventing deaths and chronic illnesses caused by smoking.…

Special to the Booster HOUSTON – As we enter the 2023 holiday season, Texans need to remain vigilant against criminals who care less about giving and more about stealing. Shoppers looking for a good deal this holiday season need to be aware of aggressive and deceptive scams designed by criminals to steal money and personal information. According…

Special to the Booster WOODVILLE – Come take a walk back into the time of elaborately decorated department store windows featuring toys to add to Santa’s list. Vintage toys will be taking the spotlight at the Allan Shivers Library and Museum from Dec. 1 – January 2, 2024. The toys will be able to be seen day or night. During the day, visitors may…

Special to the News-Standard THE WOODLANDS — Decorating your home with festive lights is a great way to celebrate the holiday season. Whether you’re a pro or a novice when it comes to putting up decorations, it’s important to understand the risks of hanging lights. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas lights alarmingly…

STOCK PHOTO By Matthew R. March, MNRDPolk County Extension Agent Sweet potato casserole may steal the spotlight at the Thanksgiving meal, but sweet potatoes are a nutritious vegetable that can be enjoyed year around. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A, with one cup of cooked sweet potatoes providing 768.7% of your recommended…

STOCK PHOTO Special to the Booster Holidays bring families and friends together, but can also mean potential hazards for pets. Table foods, ornaments, and other holiday items can be harmful to cats and dogs. Every year veterinarians at the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital see an increase in a variety of digestive diseases during the holiday…

STOCK PHOTO Special to the News-Standard The holiday season gets its official start this week as many Texans gather around the table for Thanksgiving dinner. But for the families of the 1,246 people killed last year in Texas by drunken drivers, holiday seasons will never be the same. Starting Dec. 1, 2022, there were 108 people killed and 229…

B.A. SteinhagenSLOW. Water normal stain; 67 degrees; 0.33 feet below pool. Happy Thanksgiving! Few reports and anglers on the water. Bob SandlinGOOD. Water stained; 60 degrees; 1.18 feet below pool. Crappie are good in 20-30 feet of water on standing timber with minnows or jigs. Catfish are good in standing timber 15-20 feet of water with cut bait.…

Special to the Booster LUFKIN – For many nursing home residents, someone to talk to is all they need. An ombudsman, a member of a group of volunteer resident advocates who work with nursing home residents, can be that someone. Ombudsmen work with 34 nursing facilities throughout the Deep East Texas Region and 13 assisted living facilities. Each…

Representing every region in Texas, the Texas Farm Bureau State Board of Directors just completed a day-long tour of the forest products industry in East Texas. As part of the tour, the participants visited Georgia-Pacific’s Diboll Particleboard plant in Diboll. Texas Farm Bureau leaders get first-hand look at forestry in action The Texas Farm…

By Greg GrantTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Smith County Horticulture Agent As our blistering, dry summer says goodbye and the air takes on a crisp, invigorating quality, we look forward to the gradual transformation of our trees in East Texas. Each year can be very different in the quality and the timing, but the transition from the lush green of…

By Tim Scallon, MS RDN LDRegistered Dietitian Nutritionist One of the more mundane tasks of growing up on a farm was shelling peas. As kids, when Mom bought a bushel of peas, we knew to make ourselves scarce. But she knew eventually we would have to come in for supper. And after a good homecooked meal, there sat the bushel of peas ready to be…

By Michael King Lieutenant Colonel (ret), US Army In the words of President Harry Truman “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude”. We commemorate Veterans Day every Nov. 11 to remember the sacrifice and service of our armed forces members as they have…

By Matthew R. March, MNRDPolk County Extension Agent Whether they are served scrambled, over easy, sunny side up, poached or hard boiled, eggs are a staple of the breakfast table. But have you ever given much thought to what makes up an egg and why? The egg is more than just a nutritious food surrounded by a shell; it is an amazing sample of…

Texas Parks ad Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists expect deer hunters statewide to have plenty of opportunities to fill freezers this season thanks to widespread, improved habitat conditions. “Overall, the 2023-24 deer hunting season is expected to be good in terms of harvest numbers and opportunities, so don’t let the chance to spend time…

By Matthew R. March, MNRDPolk County Extension Agent If you have ever attended any lecture or workshop on wildlife management, you have likely heard that bluestem grasses are important for wildlife. However, not all bluestems are created equal and in fact many of the grasses we call bluestems are not even related to each other. Many landowners are…

By Mike BischoffLake Livingston Fishing Club There was exciting news from Dan Ashe, biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Lake Livingston Fishing Club aka the Happy Hookers. Dan announced that beginning in 2024, TPWD will start stocking hybrid striped bass in Lake Livingston. Why hybrid bass…

By Matthew R. March, MNRDPolk County Extension Agent Sunflowers are one of the most recognizable flower species. From wild sunflowers growing in roadside ditches to cultivated sunflower fields, nothing makes people smile more than these tall vibrant flowers. Sunflowers come in a variety of colors and sizes but surprisingly all sunflowers, from…

By Cary SimsTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Angelina County Agriculture/ Natural Resources Agent As you know most of East Texas is currently experiencing an exponential drought. Pasture conditions are poor and hay production has been minimal. Hay buying to fill the shortfall has begun in earnest. Let’s take some time and put hay purchasing decisions…

By Tom Percell There’s a reason the name “Jimmy Buffett” elicits immediate joy in the hearts of millions: happiness contagion. A study conducted by Harvard University and the University of California followed 5,000 people for 20 years to determine if happiness was contagious. The study’s finding: it most certainly is. If you smile at a stranger as…

By Dr. Vanessa Corriher-OlsonTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Forage Specialist There are about 150 species of grasshoppers in the state of Texas, but 90% of the damage to crops, gardens, trees and pastures is caused by just 5 species. Grasshoppers deposit their eggs one-half to two inches below the soil surface in pod-like structures. Each egg pod…

Our pets need plenty of hydration in the extreme heat the region has experienced as of late. STOCK PHOTO By Mollie LaSallenews@tylercountybooster.com It is the third week of August, and it seems like the temperature just keeps going up. It was 102 degrees on my back porch just the other day, and my poor outside cats just looked miserable. They…

Special to the Booster While some parts of the country are cooling off, close to 70 million people in the South, West and Midwest will see dangerously high temperatures continue this week. The American Red Cross is standing by to support cooling centers and offers steps you can take to help stay safe when the temperatures soar. To find a cooling…

By Mollie LaSallenews@tylercountybooster.com We are already into the second week of August, and the sweltering high temperatures have a stranglehold on most of the United States. It seems like there is no end in sight, but if we just wait a couple more months, we can look forward to cooler temperatures. Texas is home to 105 species of snakes, 15…

By Greg Grant Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Smith County Horticulture Agent Q: There are many small dead branches in my Bradford pear. What is causing it and what can I do about it? A: That’s fireblight, a common bacterial disease that affects members of the rose family. It’s spread by splashing water and wet springs exacerbate it. Unfortunately,…

By Mollie LaSallenews@tylercountybooster.com The excessive heat can cause a multitude of problems for vehicle owners. Taking care of your car in 100 degree-plus temperatures is important for the safety of the vehicle, and yourself. Most car owners know the basics maintenance-wise, get your oil changed every three thousand miles, and have them…

Anyone born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 is required to complete a hunter education course to legally hunt in the state of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will offer three hunter education courses to the public. Students must be nine years or older and the cost is $15. The three classes will be held in the following locations: 6-9:30 p.m.…

Cucumber Harvester Image Credit to Matt Milkovich, Vegetable Growers News By Matthew R. March, MNRDPolk County Extension Agent Cucumbers are one of the most popular vegetables consumed. From topping off a fresh salad with sliced cucumbers to a sour pickle treat, cucumbers may be one of the most versatile vegetables. In fact, cucumbers are so…