This May 4 was the 141st May Picnic, held each year on the first Saturday in May, at the adobe building on the historic site at Doan’s Crossing, on the Red River 12 miles north of Vernon. The event dates from 1884, making it the oldest continuously celebrated pioneer festival in Texas. The adobe house was built in 1881 by Jonathan Doan and Corwin F. Doan and families. Doan traded with the Indians and supplied the cowboys on the cattle drives taking vast herds of longhorns north up the Great Western Trail to the rail yards in Dodge City, Kansas, St Louis, Missouri, and other points farther north. Doan’s was the last stop for the cowboys before crossing the Red River into what was then known as “Indian Territory”, now Oklahoma.

Peaches from Fredericksburg will soon find their way to the area, and while the ones I found last time were small, they were fairly sweet and juicy. The peaches I purchased from a roadside fruit stand were perfect for snacking, and for putting into a baked treat, like in this fruit crisp recipe.

This week recognizes a global celebration of World Bee Day. May 20 was chosen as the date for this observation, as it is the birthdate of Anton Janša.

KNOX CITY-As National EMS Week approaches its 50th year, Knox County Hospital District is proud to recognize the unwavering dedication of emergency medical professionals who stand ready to respond to crises 24/7.

Water wells have been a part of the landscape in the District for over 125 years. Many of these wells had a life expectancy of about 20 years with the best engineered well lasting 50 years. Oftentimes, end of life wells are forgotten or ignored and become a pathway for contaminates to enter the aquifer. Today, a large but unknown number of abandoned, often hand dug wells exist in the District. Not only do they pose a contamination risk but also a life risk should a child or animal happen to fall into one.

Mother’sDayandflowers. What better way for a mother to be recognized on her day? Flowers say it best.

Social media often provides fun ways to keep up with food trends. One of the best pasta sauces I’ve ever made was the one I wrote about using an idea from TicTok. It was a baked red sauce with a block of feta or creamcheeseinthemiddleof a bunch of tomatoes. Baked and stirred together with some herbs and seasonings, it becomes a luxurious, rich sauce that we enjoy over any type of pasta.

KNOX CITY — Knox County Hospital District (KCHD) is celebrating National Hospital and Skilled Nursing Care Week (May 12-18). This celebration recognizes the importance of our area’s hospitals and skilled nursing facilities and acknowledges and appreciates the healthcare service providers and staff who strive to support the well-being of their neighbors and residents.

A little humor can go a long way to diffusing a situation, and police officers have to do this on a daily basis so it’s no wonder most officers are experts at this. A few stories recently seen online are good examples of exhibiting humor and patience… The Texas Observer reported that in 2019 in San Antonio, a pair of hikers in Government Canyon State Natural Area called 911 to report that “an animal had been following and growling at them, so they had taken refuge by climbing a tree.” A park police officer arrived and, according to the Texas Game Wardens’ Field Notes newsletter, found the couple flinching at the source of the threatening noise - the sound of cars passing over rumble strips on a nearby road. “The lost hikers were reassured by the officer that the unknown can be scary,” the newsletter concluded.

“Make it a rule never to give a child a book you wouldn’t read yourself.” - George Bernard Shaw The Munday City-County Library is excited to announce our summer reading event for 2024. This year we will host a summer of magical reading starting June 30 and running until July 27. Students Kinder - 12th grade will read their way to prizes!