From the San Saba News & Star Archives
100 Years Ago August 12, 1926
The screwworm fly eradication program has come a long way since its inauguration on Aug. 22, 1961. Billy Kidd, county agent, stated.
Beginning with the Kerrville Station, which produced flies at the rate of 20 million per week, the program has grown to the capacity of producing more than 50 million per week, and expected to produce 75 million in the near future.
A total of 128,112,000 flies have been produced and released since the first pupae were radiated on a large scale on July 6.
Last week, a total of 2,287 samples were confirmed as screwworms in Texas; Oklahoma had four, New Mexico, 47; Arkansas, 0; and Louisiana, 0.
At the weekly level, it requires about 75,000 pounds of meat per week, 3,500 gallons of blood, and 8,712 gallons of water to care for the flies, Kidd said.
Planes dispersing sterile screwworm flies have operated out of Moore Air Base at Mission and Kerrville for the past few months. A distribution center will be set up at San Antonio this week, and at Laredo and Del Rio in the near future. Other centers are scheduled for Marfa and El Paso.
These centers are being added to cut down on transport time and obtain more economical use of planes releasing flies. An ideal dispersing area is a radius of 140 miles from a distribution center for the present release patterns.
Flies are now being released at the rate of about 800 per square mile. A minimum of 12 planes will be needed for dispersing 50 million flies per week at this high rate and up to 20 planes for the 75 million per week production planned by September.
A group of insulated trailers were obtained from government surplus for use in storing flies at the centers. The trailers are now being stripped down and air conditioners installed so that around two million flies can be stored in each trailer. The trailers are used because they are mobile and can be moved to new locations on short notice when necessary.
Sterile flies were dropped over San Saba county last Thursday prior to plane engine trouble. As the plane was unable to complete its air-drop, the balance were distributed to different ranchers by automobile, Kidd stated.
64 Years Ago August 13, 1962
Rivers Morris is selling new sweet potatoes from the Morris farm opposite the fair grounds. These are the first sweet potatoes we have seen on the market, which have been grown in this county.
Hookem's Service Station has made some very substantial improvements in the way of new air pumps and additional gas stations. This is now one of the best equipped stations in San Saba.
The force has been running in 'high' for about two weeks and as they need 'repose' we are only issuing a half paper Fair week. We want to see the ponies go round and round, root for the home team and fill up on pink lemonade and listen to the music of the red and blue balloons.
B. E. Funderburk of the Shaw Bend community has been marketing some fine white grapes this week. The San Saba county product excels the California grapes and finds a ready market. Grapes do exceptionally well here and the farmers should make it a point to grow more of this delicious fruit.
L. H. Creamer and sons have established a new bus line out of San Saba, via Llano, Fredericksburg and San Antonio. They made their first trip. They have two brand new Buick Sedan's, which are up-to-now in equipment and as Mr. Creamer is an old-timer in the transfer business, we expect he will make the new venture a complete success. This is the only way we have of getting towards the southern part of the state.