Not a lot of news this week. The tanks are drying up, the grass has dried up long ago, some of the fruit trees are going by the wayside and it looks like any good news around the Bend is drying up too. The Tropical storm that was reported to be bringing in some moisture just didn’t make it up this far, but did help some folks in South Texas. If it doesn’t rain before long there could be a shortage of hay this winter, which is not good news. It was reported on one of the farm shows on TV that hay from Oklahoma was coming into Texas to help with the hay shortage. Tractor Supply in Lampasas was expecting a new shipment of hay in from Oklahoma this week and no idea of what the price would be.

The only good thing that can be reported about the weather is that it is even too hot and dry for big jumbo grass hoppers. There are just a few small ones around, but even they are having a hard time finding anything green to eat.

Sorry to report that Rufus Cobern lost his battle with cancer July 29, 2011. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 6, at the Church of Christ in Lometa at 2:00 p.m. He will be greatly missed by his family and his many

friends especially his domino buddies.

There was a good report on Clovis Gibson who recently had surgery. She stayed with her daughter LaVada McCoury upon discharge from hospital and is

now well enough to be home.

Sylvia and Jimmy Stinnett’s daughter, Autumn Brown came through her gall bladder surgery and is visiting a friend in Goldthwaite for a few days.

Jane Clark has been keeping busy this week babysitting her grandkids, Jordan and Jaylee Messer, while their parents along with other teachers from Burnett

are attending meetings in San Antonio.

Elsa Dean Shirley and her two grandchildren Cayman and Timber Rogers of New Mexico visited in the home of William and Jane Clark this week. LaNell Daniels and R. J. Henniger joined the family for supper Monday night to catch up on all the news from New Mexico. Elsa Dean spent the weekend in Temple visiting her son Kenneth and his wife Vanessa Shirley and on her way home she stopped off for a visit with William and Jane. Emerson and Gladys Brister wasn’t able to come to Bend to be with Elsa Dean because of a doctor’s appointment and a grand baby that was sick.

Happy birthday greetings go out to Dillon Brister who will celebrate his birthday August 5 and to John Byrd who will celebrate a birthday August 10. Congratulations go out to Pat and Bonnie Millican who will celebrate their anniversary August 6, and to Dan and Jill Harrington who will celebrate an anniversary August 11.