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By Jerry Morgan, Reporter

Even if things have seemed a bit dry and dusty in recent days and weeks, 2007 is still on track to be the wettest year since continuous local rainfall records have been maintained beginning in 1964.
Through the nine months ending in September, the Corps of Engineers at Proctor Lake have recorded 46.32 inches of total precipitation, a total that already qualified 2007 as the third wettest year in that 43 year time span.

The total amount of rain the area has received in the preceding 12 months is 51.30 inches, an amount that bests the 50.81 inches record set in 1986.

Although October has been dry thus far, if the average amount of rainfall is received in the final three months of the calendar year, the 2007 total could exceed 53 inches, more than two inches above the record. That rainfall total is about average for only the extreme southeast corner of Texas.

(The monthly recap of rainfall totals can generally be found on page 2 of our newspaper each week.)

Did you know? Rainfall in Texas varies primarily in an east to west direction, but very little from north to south. Except for relatively minor topographically caused variations, areas to the north and south on a given longitudinal axis in Texas, receive similar amounts of rainfall.

Driving from east to west, however, you only have to travel approxixmately 17 miles to drop one inch per year in average rainfall. (Source: Texas Weather by George Bomar)

Week #5 in our football contest proved to be another tough one for most of our pickers and more than a few teams.

Billy Warren, however, proved to have correctly anticipated it all, and since he turned in the only perfect contest form, the entire $50 weekly prize is his alone.

The close, but no cigar, group with only a single incorrect pick included Donald Nowlin, Jimmy Davis, Buddy Sharp, Terry Hodges, Barry Hooker, Talmage Hodges, Rocky Atchley and Steve Baker.

The games most often missed included TCU’s loss to Wyoming and Brownwood’s loss to Abilene Cooper, where 70% or more of our pickers chose the loser. Ballinger’s loss to Jim Ned and Texas’ loss to Oklahoma were the next two games most often missed.

The games that were the most easily predicted included Gorman over Perrin Whitt, Ranger over Cross Plains and Texas Tech’s win over Iowa State. Stephenville’s and Tarleton’s wins and Comanche’s and Baylor’ losses were also widely predicted.

The average score for our picking panel was 77.4%, good for a solid “C” and about average for this year. We still hope for improvement.

Week #6 promises to be another tough one as Ranger visits DeLeon, Texas A&M travels out to joust with Texas Tech, and a host of other tricky games dot the schedule. Good luck!

By Laura Kestner, Editor

Members of the Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District board of directors met in regular session, Thursday, October 4, with five directors -- George Bingham, Ed Dittfurth, Rodney Stephens, Jerry Fronterhouse and Fred Parker -- present. Jerry Hinshaw was absent.

Also present were MTGCD Manager, Joe Cooper; Sharon Mainord, administrative assistant; and Wes Burris, field technician.

Although there were no participants in the “Public Comments” portion of the meeting, Wes Biglan, of Dublin, was on the agenda at his request.   >>Full Story<<

By Jerry Morgan, Reporter

Driving on Highway 2921 a few miles northwest of DeLeon, one might not pay much attention to the long closed pheasant farm on the south side of the road. Indeed, it looks pretty much abandoned and neglected now as it has for the past few years.

However, appearances can be deceiving. Most of the nets covering the flight pens have been patched up, and the damage from past wind and ice storms repaired. But the pens are still full of tall weeds.

The tall weeds have been left growing, but now serve a new purpose. They provide natural shade and habitat for thousands upon thousands of game birds.  >>Full Story<<

By Tim White, Sports Editor

The DeLeon Bearcat Football team lost to the Tolar Rattlers last Friday night by a score of 14-28 in Tolar.

The Bearcats showed improvements in every aspect of the game, but fell short. A late, meaningless touchdown near the end by the Rattlers gave the appearance of a more lopsided game, but DeLeon was knocking on the door throughout most of the game.  >>Full Story<<

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