Sometimes, traditions become so routine it’s hard to remember how they began. This is true even in a community that cherishes long-standing traditions.

Many returning 4th of July spectators are sure to recognize and enjoy the Smiley Johnson Municipal Band on the Courthouse lawn the morning of the “Star-Spangled Salute” parade.

While many know how the band has evolved throughout the years, some might not. It’s important to remember this history so the tradition can be loved for years to come.

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting nominations for county committee members for elections that will occur later this year.

 WASHINGTON, June 14, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two to provide a method for valuing losses and accessing program benefits to eligible producers of certain crops, including grapes grown and used by the same producer for wine production or forage that is grown, stored and fed to livestock, that do not generate revenue directly from the sale of the crop.

AUSTIN – Newly-released data from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), subject to customary data revisions in the coming months, shows that upstream oil and natural gas employment in the state surged by 6,900 jobs in May, the highest single-month reported job growth in the 33 years of data available on TWC’s website. The addition of these jobs in May brings the total upstream oil and natural gas job count in Texas above 200,000 for the first time in over three years.