April 2025

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GARDENER’S MAILBAG Dear Neil, I received two angel trumpet plants, but I’ve read articles about their being poisonous. What information can you give me? I can confirm that both closely related plants, daturas and brugmansias, are toxic if ingested.

Because I once served as editor for a Collegiate weekly newspaper and later was a faculty advisor for a school newspaper, there are instances when I handled a particular edition of a paper “hot off the press,” the ink not quite dry. I supposing that’s not usual and that by the time most readers open this edition of the Pioneer it may be later in the day, Thursday, before they arrive at this column dealing with worship services taking place here in Ft. Stockton during Holy Week 2025 and some thoughts in anticipation of Resurrection Day on Sunday.

I remember the time my wife and I went on a trip to Israel, and we saw many wonderful things like the Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee and City of Jericho. We spent a good deal of time in Jerusalem, and I was impressed with the city. We visited the Wailing Wall, the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives. But two things that really caught my attention were a nearby hill that looked like a giant skull and a nearby empty tomb, (Matthew 27:3337). It may or may not be the tomb where they laid Jesus Christ after His crucifixion on the cross. The Bible and Jesus Himself foretold His death and His resurrection from the grave, (Matthew 28:6&7, Mark 8:31, 16:1-16). His close friends went to the tomb where they had laid Him and He was not there. Shortly He appeared too many and at one time to over 500, (1Corinthians 15:6). He was not a ghost or a departed spirit as He ate fish with the disciples, (Luke 24:36-49). His death or shed blood made the only way our sins could be forgiven and His bodily resurrection from the grave was evidence that His offering for us was acceptable to God, (Romans 4:24&25, 5:6-11). Just as He had victory over death, all of us that have accepted or believe in Him will live in Glory forever with Him, (John 3:16-18, Romans 10:913, 1Peter 1:3-9).

Surely I’m not alone in the phenomenon of dutifully paying my credit card bill by the deadline and then, two weeks into the next billing period, abruptly freaking out with self-doubt. Did I pay it or not? According to a Talker Research survey of 2,000 Americans across all generations, people on average spend two hours and 18 minutes each day wrestling with worrisome thoughts.

I understand the Office of Management and Budget, at the direction of DOGE, plans drastic cuts at NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Agency). This is an open letter to Senator Ted Cruz: “Senator Cruz, I live in Texas.

CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton made it official last week, announcing he will challenge U.S. Sen.

FORT DAVIS - The University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory will celebrate the region’s famed night skies during its annual Dark Skies Festival, scheduled for April 22-26 at multiple locations throughout Fort Davis, Alpine, Marfa, and Terlingua.

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Fort Stockton ISD will host a variety of affordable summer sports camps beginning May 20, offering youth opportunities to develop skills in swimming, basketball, football, tennis, and more. The camps cater to students from elementary through ninth grade.