My apologies for missing last week’s edition of the “News”, but R. Barker and Yrs. Truly had to be out of town on extremely urgent business. You see, the last week of Mule Deer season was winding down out in the Trans-Pecos, and being the devoted hunters we are, could hardly miss that sacred event. Several various & assorted San Saba folks have been making an annual trek out around Pecos & Terrell Counties for the quest for Muleys for over 45 years. I think the 1st trip Daddy made out that way was in the late 50’s or early 60’s when he & Rex Mahan, Jr. hunted out close to Alpine, nearly freezing to death sleeping in a Stock Trailer covered with a tarp. Over the years Daddy has hunted with Pudge Gage, Judge Reavis, Jimmy Don, and Burnett. I’ve been making the trip for a little over 20 years and Richard has been partnering with me the past four. We’ve been hunting on the Cox Ranch, across the road from the Longfellow, out between Sanderson and Marathon. The Ranch has some very scenic vistas and some parts are pretty rough as “Hell’s Half-acre” is located on a portion of the place. Anyhow, it’s fairly interesting hunting as you might come upon Scaled Quail, various varmints, Collared Peccary, or even an occasional Mountain Lion. Daddy and James even ran up on a small bear running down the Ranch Road one evening a few years back. Barker bagged a nice buck, Burnett and Cockrill both filled their tags, but mine got back up and ran off. We saw Stuart once in the pasture, but haven’t talked to him or Worth since we got back as to what they might have gotten.

The ’07 version of the San Saba County Pecan Show is in the record books now as of last week with the show having 63 entries in the annual Pecan event. The number of entries was down about 40% of the normal average, but the quality of nuts entered was surprisingly good. I’m not sure of all the placings but think that Olan Tisdale had the Champion of the commercial class with his Hopi, while Jackie Brister’s Oconee took Reserve. Texcan Pecan Farms’ Navajo was judged Champion Classic, and Mebbie Eckhoff’s Comanche won Reserve. Imogene Hawkins exhibited the Grand Champion Native with her Wallace Creek seedling, while Gilger’s “Grandma Nee” took Reserve. Kathy Edmondson had the smallest Pecan as her sample weighed in at 453 nuts per pound. Daddy won blue ribbons with his Mahan and Stuart, and Lady Z even won a blue with her Onliwon from the front yard. Nubbin Judkins placed 3rd in the Natives with a roadside tree off the Wallace Creek Rd. The County Agent took 23 of the San Saba entries to the Regional Show in Stephenville tues., but results were not available at press time. Our San Saba Pecan Show happens to be the oldest County Pecan Show in Texas. John Begnaud, Extension Horticulturist from San Angelo judged the official placings.

You might need to be aware that we don’t have all that many shopping days left until Christmas. Most of us men are rather traditional in waiting ‘til the last few days to do our gift getting while the ladies are pretty good about starting 3-4 months ahead of the blessed event. One good aspect of that for our fair town is that it usually requires us to shop locally as it’s too late to get out-of-town. San Saba has a fairly fine assortment of shops and stores now-days that can provide a virtual plethora of items available for putting under the tree. We also sport a good number of retail Pecan outlets that offer all sorts of Pecans and culinary condiments that make exceptional gifts for anyone with good taste. The Mayor and yrs. Truly have been resorting to giving Pecans to special folks for several years now, out around——————Harkeyville!!!!!!