February 2026

“You don’t have to tell your guts!” My mother’s colorful phrase for practicing verbal restraint would be mocked by proponents of the viral dating trend called “hot take dating.” Once upon a time, people in the dating game practiced their best behavior and tiptoed around potentially controversial topics. When I first met my wife and she asked where I attended church, I hastily volunteered the location name rather than the denomination, so as not to offend her United Methodist sensiblities.

This cold weather reminds me of the times my wife and I would be feeding sheep. It seemed like dry weather and cold winters went together. It is hard on livestock as well as those taking care of them. We had to feed them to keep them alive. One thing I noticed while we were feeding is that some of the sheep recognized the yellow color of the old feed truck and here they would come. The others would stand way off and not come in to eat. Those that came in to eat the feed stayed in good shape and were strong but those that didn’t come in got thinner and weaker. Those sheep reminded me of something we can face in life. Do we draw near to the things of God or do we stand off. I don’t think there is anything more pitiful looking than a skinny, weak animal or anything any better looking than one that is fat and full of life. You can look at animals and tell but we can’t see the soul of man. Our souls are fed when we read our Bibles, get involved in Bible studies or attend Church, (Psalm 55:4, 63:5,107:8&9). We can also be involved in things that will make us weaker and leaner in our souls, (Psalm 10 7:5, Luke 1:53). Let us draw near to the feed wagon of God, (Psalm 23, and James 4:8).

When five things are present, children are better protected from people trying to hurt them. Here’s the first key: A Tightknit Community Psalms 82:4 NLT [4] Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.

Fort Stockton High School senior Gerry Diaz officially signed his National Letter of Intent on Tuesday, Feb. 4, committing to continue his baseball career at Schreiner University in Kerrville, where he will compete for the Mountaineers on a baseball scholarship.

The Fort Stockton Panthers closed out a critical stretch of district play with a split week that included a hard-fought overtime loss on the road and a milestone victory at home inside the Special Events Center.

Fort Stockton ISD Athletic Director DJ Howell delivered a wide-ranging update during the Jan. 29 school board meeting, outlining postseason results and the district’s transition into the heart of the spring athletic season.

February 2026 Thursday, 2/12: Panther Tennis at the JV RC Winter Invitational in Big Lake (8:00 AM). Prowler Softball at the South Plains Showdown in Lubbock, Time TBD (through 2/14).

Fort Stockton Pioneer EST 1908 S______ P__ C.___ N February –1977— WEATHER FORECAST — The weather forecast for March 18-19 indicates members of the Western District of Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs will be arriving in Fort Stockton from the different cities and towns in the area. “Weather Forecast” is the theme of the convention to be held here with the cooperative efforts of both study clubs — The Fort Stockton Literary Club and the Magno Usul Study Club.

Dear Neil, I lost my dwarf kumquat tree in a freeze. I’ve tried to find a replacement locally, but the various garden centers say they are not profitable to sell. Do you have any suggestions of where I might find one?

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