Lifestyle

by David Hunn 

Pipeline and drilling opponents will open three camps in the high desert north of Big Bend National Park over the next week or so, hoping to attract hundreds of protesters to West Texas to block a pipeline and the development of recently discovered oil and gas fields. The organizers aim to follow the example of the hundreds of people who traveled to North Dakota, camping out and demonstrating for months to stop–at least for now–the completion of the Dakota Access pipeline, which would have carried oil from the Bakken Shale in North Dakota to Midwestern pipeline networks that connect to the Gulf Coast refineries.

The Obama administration decided not to grant the permit needed to finish the project; the incoming Trump administration, however, has pledged to give the pipeline the green light.

Stanton’s Primary Utility Services Company recently honored employees for five years of service to the company.Le f t to right are Anthony Molina, Guillermo Ortiz Jr. and Adan Valerio.

SAN ANTONIO - Out in West Texas, one farming couple has planted their roots deep in the soil. And the desire to succeed has paid off for Marcus and Amy Halfmann of Garden City. The couple was named the winners of the 2016 Texas Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher competition at TFB’s Annual Meeting in San Antonio.

“The Halfmanns have great passion and determination,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “The challenges of farming can be daunting, especially for young farmers, but it hasn’t stopped Marcus and Amy. They’re not afraid of hard work.”

Martin County 4-H members, James McDaniel and Daniel Wickler, participated in the District 6 4-H Food Show Dec. 3, in Monahans. More than 50 4-Hers from across the district competed. James and Daniel had to deliver presentations about MyPlate, daily nutritional needs, and food safety along with the nutritional value and preparation steps of their recipes, and then the judges asked them additional questions and were served a portion of the dish.

WEST TEXAS - A 14 percent decline in U.S. consumer meat consumption over the past decade has caused alarm with one Texas A&M AgriLife scientist who warns the effects could be dire for overall human health and child development - not to mention the backbone of West Texas agriculture - the cattle business.

Dr. Guoyao Wu, distinguished professor in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University, said U.S. consumers have been overwhelmed with misinformation about protein and fats in meats, which in turn has led to many consuming less meat or no meat at all.

“Obesity rates have gone up the last 20 years, while consumption of meat has declined,” Wu said. “So I don’t believe that we can blame obesity on eating meat. Rather I think excessive portion sizes and lack of exercise are more likely the causes of obesity.”

Everything Delicious Bakery and Gifts is no longer bound by the city limits of Stanton. The young business, owned by Domingo and Vanessa Silva, has expanded and is now having its cupcakes featured in two new Kent Kwik stores in Midland and will also have a couple flavors available at the Tarzan Grill in Tarzan.

Martin County 4-H’s very own Daniel Wickler participated in the statewide 4-H Jr. Leadership Retreat last weekend at the Texas 4-H Center at Lake Brownwood. During his two-night stay at the 4-H Center, he participated in a wide variety of activities and experiences such as teambuilding, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) workshops, leadership development, food challenge contest and dancing.