Perspectives

The Blackland Prairie consists of about 12.6 million acres of east-central Texas extending from the Red River to Bexar County. There are smaller areas to the southeast. The soils are deep dark gray to black alkaline. The soils are known as “cracking clays” because of the large, deep cracks that form in dry weather. This soil can cause serious damage to foundations, highways and other structures and is a safety hazard in pits and trenches. Most of the grass land has been changed to pasture type grasses with native grasses on the shallower and steeper soils. It is the native grasses that Matt White writes about in “Prairie Time – A Blackland Portrait.”

American Legion Post 288 Commander Daniel Burkeen presents the Kirby Hyden scholarship for 2020 to MaKenzie Self, a 2020 graduate of Coolidge High School. MaKenzie is studying Biomedical Technology at Texas State Technical College, and is the daughter of David and Ginger Self. Contributed photo

Sand volleyball returned to the Hughes Park list of July 4th activities this year with the All-American Sand Volleyball Tournament, sponsored by Serenity Spa. District 1 City Councilman Clifton (Butch) Newhouse and his wife, Missy, coordinated the event on the newly refurbished courts. The action featured two age brackets, including local teams as well as numerous teams from the surrounding area.