Out west and around the county

- Trencher, west of Hobbs -

Work on the City of Rotan water project is continuing out in the Hobbs area. It's pretty busy west of the Hobbs School, in eastern Scurry and western Fisher counties. Equipment and vehicles hauling pipes can be seen going up and down the state and county roads.

The commissioners court is going to be interesting next week, in light of the outcome of the Fisher County election. Simon Wade, former sheriff, who resigned last March, won the race by an overwhelming margin. Tom Pohlman, a sheriff's department employee at the time of Wade's resignation, was appointed as sheriff after Wade's departure. There's an article in the Double Mountain Chronicle this week that explains the situation. 

The commissioners court regular meeting is set for November 12. A special meeting to conduct the local canvass is slated for the following week, November 18.

Three and half inches or so of rain was measured in the Hobbs area last week. More rain is expected today and tomorrow, spurred by an upper level low coming through. Severe weather is predicted.

Sources:

• Double Mountain Chronicle
• Fisher County
• National Weather Service

A little news and a bunch of bugs

- Night flight bugs -

There was a pretty good rain around Hobbs yesterday, a little over an inch, but rain doesn't come without consequence around here. This time it was thousands and thousands of bugs. They looked like termites with wings and they all wanted in my house. I put in earplugs to keep them out of my ears, and got out the vacuum. The only good thing I can say about them is that they didn't bite or sting.

You can follow the progress of the new hardware store on facebook. Fisher Ace Hardware & Farm Supply in Rotan has a page with a lot of interesting photos and videos. They documented pouring the store foundation, reporting that it took 27 trucks to get the job done.

The land deal has gone through for the Dollar General store in Rotan. Expect to see groundwork being laid on the southern edge of town. Dollar General in Roby is in construction now.

Stoney LaRue will be playing at the Taylor County Coliseum Friday, September 5, during the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene. Table, floor and balcony seats are available. Performance begins at 9 p.m.

Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone is coming back November 10, and Tulsa King will return September 15. I swore I would never watch another Sheridan production until he showed us the last episodes of season five of Yellowstone, but Tulsa King is coming on first, so I will be breaking my vow. The shows will air on Paramount Network and Paramount+.

About the weather

 - FM 611 South -

There's a lot of yellow in the barditches and pastures. The rain came at just the right time to feed the daisies, scrambled eggs and buttercups. It's good to shake it up sometime, have something other than bluebonnets all over the place.

It sure is nice to have a high of 81 early in June. My records say that it got to 103 this time last year. High humidity, daily rains and intense, intermittent sunshine are working to make the gardens grow and the grass green. I saw some cotton was already up on Camp Springs road, close to Snyder. I've measured over 6 1/2 inches of rain since May 9.

I've got quite an investment in Off! bug spray. I think the orange cans are the best. I'm working on my small motor skills with the flyswatter. I can't stand the smell of fly spray, but I've got some for desperate times.

Rain chances are ongoing for next week. What a stellar summer we've got started.