The Muleshoe Art Association held their first meeting of the 2024-25 season on Sept. 3.

Alice’s note: This story first appeared in my blog Cactus are Cool on September 5, 2024. It is an odd but interesting cactus, not one of the best shape, but it has grown over the years and blooms for me, and not one you see to buy that often, so I have kept it all these years. It might be happier in the grown, but I don’t trust it to make it through the winter since it is native to Mexico, which is much warmer. So it will live it life in a pot, a bigger one eventually. I have...

Bailey County landowners heard directly from Jude Smith, Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge manager, about the federal agency's plan to expand the refuge's boundaries with conservation easements.

The Plains Cowboys traveled to Hale Center to do battle with the Owls on Friday. Both teams were looking for the first win of the year.

Plainview Junior High Cross Country had a back to school fun run Saturday at the Duck Pond.

The West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute will host its annual conference on Sept. 12 at Lubbock's Scottish Rite Event Center.

Muleshoe senior quarterback Nathan Martens finished with more passing touchdowns (5) than incompletions (4) against Lamesa in the Mules 74-42 win over the Golden Tornadoes.

The Pioneers' defense put on a clinic against North American, limiting the Stallions' offense to just 45 passing yards and 123 rushing yards.

Chalk up a clean sweep for Canyon High School in the first Canyon News Athlete of the Week contest. Landri Jay, a senior defensive specialist on the Lady Eagles volleyball team, and Jake Doak, a junior linebacker on the Eagles football team, were voted as the Week 1 Female and Male Athletes of the Week. The weekly contest is sponsored by FMC Health Group/Care X-Press and contestants are selected by Canyon News Managing Editor Tim Ritter. Each Monday, eight total contestants (four female, four male) from Canyon ISD schools, Happy ISD and West Texas A&M University are chosen and the public casts their votes on the Canyon News Facebook page. Voting is open on Tuesday through 3 p.m. on Thursday.

West Texas A&M couldn't find a rhythm offensively Thursday night and fell 41-13 to No. 5 Colorado School of Mines in front of 4,224 fans at Marv Kay Stadium in Golden, Colo. The Orediggers wasted little time getting on the board as their first drive spanned just five plays with a 47-yard rushing touchdown by Landon Walker for the early 7-0 lead.  Mines added to its lead following a West Texas A&M three-and-out as a 27-yard Evan Foster touchdown pass to Max McLeod made it 14-0. The Buffs responded on their next drive as they marched 75 yards down the field on seven plays,...

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, has named Alexis Thompson, DVM, Ph.D., DACVPM, resident director at the Charles W. “Doc” Graham ‘53 DVM laboratory in Canyon. She will begin her new role Sept. 1. As resident director, Thompson will oversee all aspects of the lab’s testing efforts, which contribute over 111,000 tests to TVMDL’s annual test volume. In addition, the Canyon lab services key livestock and agricultural industries throughout the Panhandle region and statewide. “I couldn’t be happier to announce that Dr. Thompson will serve as TVMDL Canyon’s resident director,” said Amy Swinford, DVM, DACVM, TVMDL director. “She’s been doing an outstanding job helping our dairy clients navigate the unprecedented findings of avian influenza in dairy cattle. The leadership she’s demonstrated to our clients and to our Canyon laboratory staff has proven she is a natural fit for her new role. “I’m confident that with Dr. Thompson’s expertise and training in epidemiology and diagnostics, she’ll identify new opportunities for expanding our services to better serve the needs of Panhandle animal industries, animal owners and veterinarians.”

Students in West Texas A&M University’s Department of Agricultural Sciences will bring back a major event after its runaway success in its inaugural year. The Fall Gather, which will run from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 21, is a celebration of the “unique aspects of Panhandle agriculture and the hands that feed us,” said committee member McKenna Murphy, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Calhan, Colorado. “By showcasing where our food comes from and the hard work behind it, we aim to deepen understanding and appreciation for agriculture,” Murphy said. “Together, we unite students, families, producers, and the entire community in a shared celebration of agriculture and its vital role in our lives.” Tickets are $30 each or $10 for students.

City of Canyon commissioners approved Tuesday the installation of eight license plate reader cameras, five of which are on Texas Department of Transportation right-of-ways.  In February, the Canyon Police Department was contacted by the Panhandle Auto Burglary and Theft Unit about partnering in a grant for the purchase of the license plate reader cameras. The City of Canyon had to grant a resolution that holds Texas Department of Transportation harmless for damages that might occur to the cameras before installation begins. The high-resolution cameras will have a 30-day retention and all Canyon Police officers will be trained to use them. The cameras will work with Amarillo's system and also Lubbock's (as well as throughout the country) for identifying suspects or witnesses or missing endangered people. One of the main cameras has been installed at Walmart in Canyon, due to the large number of people who shop there and also high thefts.

When Ernie Rojas drove the Kubota L200 tractor with a brush hog behind it into a fence his first week of working for the City of Canyon Parks Department in 1981, he thought his job was over. Not quite. After 43 dedicated years, Rojas retired from his City of Canyon Parks position on August 29. The City honored Rojas at a retirement luncheon in the Cole Community Center. "If there's a definition of a dependable and loyal employee, it would be Ernie," City of Canyon Parks and Recreation Director Brian Noel said. "He came to work every day in the heat and the cold, not knowing what he would have to do, but always doing it with a smile and a sense of duty.

Pampa High School dedicated its stadium name to former Harvester, Red Raider, and recent NFL Hall of Famer Zach Thomas before Friday's game. Pampa lost 51-18 to Plainview High School.

Plainview played four solid quarters of football and came away with the win against Pampa following NFL Hall of Famer Zach Thomas's stadium dedication.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. and all preschool children and parents are welcome to attend.

Every week, a handful of athletes are nominated for Athlete of the Week honors. Winners are announced online at myplainview.com each Friday and published in Saturday’s print edition of the Herald.