The Walk on the Wild Side day camp provided a chance to learn about nature in different ways.   The three-day camp ran from June 30th through July 2nd.   Youngsters were face to face with snakes, made plaster casts, and walked through the canyon. Each activity incorporated nature in its theme.

    Hotdogs, potato chips, and brownies were the ideal spread for a picnic on Thursday afternoon in front of High Country Community Rural Health Clinic.  The clinic sponsored the picnic that was open to Dalhart residents.  This year’s picnic marked the 11th for the annual event, which began in 1998.

The Dalhart Water and Sanitation Department sent out a message within the 2008 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report received by city residents this past week. The message is both a reminder and a plea for residents to use the correct garbage dumpsters when disposing of garbage, newspapers, and yard clippings. 

    DalhARTs Drama Camp students will complete their week of study with a Grand Finale Production, Friday July 10, 7:00 p.m. in the Dalhart High School Auditorium. About 45 students, ages 5 to 15, have been studying music, drama and dance under the direction of members of the Gypsy Theatre Co.

    On Monday, the World Heath Organization (WHO) has officially classified 89,921 cases as influenza A (H1N1) infection, swine flu.  To date 380 people have died worldwide.  The United States has reported 33,902 laboratory confirmed human cases or 37.70 percent of the total cases worldwide.  Deaths in the United States have reached 170 or 47.73 percent of the total deaths worldwide.  The Phase 6 Alert continues.

     Question:  I would like to become a notary public and maybe earn a little extra cash.  What do I need to do and how much can I charge for notary services?

    There’s no time like summertime for the words of the old standard, “Deep in the Heart of Texas” to ring true.  The song, lyrics by June Hershey and music by Don Swander, was written in 1941.  It was first recorded by Perry Como with Ted Weems and his Orchestra for Decca Record, Los Angelos, California.  It was a side B song to “Ollie Ollie Out’s in Free” and spent five weeks at the top of “Your Hit Parade” in 1942.

    Internet, laptop, smart phone, iPod, MP3, CD, portable DVD, digital camera, Kindle, WebTV, PSP, DSi, GameBoy, GPS, Bluetooth, OnStar, WiFi and 3G. A person can get plugged into so many different devices and all at the same time, even while driving.  And “plugged in” is more a relative term, as most of the devices don’t require a plug at all except to recharge long-life batteries.  Cell phones have long been able to connect to the Internet and keep contact information and now have Windows and an ability to create documents.  They have taken the building out of the office and replaced it with anywhere cell service is available. 

Channing’s Haley Nelson qualified to compete in barrel racing at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper Wyoming held June 14-20.  Nelson, a 2008 graduate of Channing High School, attends Levelland’s South Plains College.  She entered the rodeo finals ranked 13th overall.  No points from the school year were carried over to the rodeo finals and each competitor started out on the same footing.

    Residents living in the Dallam/Hartley Counties area and within the city of Dalhart may need to consider the rules, regulations and bans for three different jurisdictions:  Dallam County, Hartley County and Dalhart, before purchasing and setting off fireworks this year.

    On July 4, 1777, Philadelphia was aglow with blazing bonfires. Merchants and citizens placed candles in their windows, church bells pealed throughout the city and ships shot cannons.  It was just one year before that the United States of America was born and declared that the colonies no longer belonged to Great Britain. It was her 1st Birthday!

A Walton Wedding

    Driving down Denver Avenue on Friday afternoon, I was drawn to a familiar home surrounded by a white picket fence. Along with the familiar white wicker furniture and red geraniums on the picturesque front porch, white tulle and flowers were being added to the décor. In the front yard, someone was setting up folding chairs. 

  This week, many towns across the country, large and small, will celebrate the Independence of the United States of America.  Parades and family get-togethers will dominate the scene as fireworks burst on the canvas of a darkening sky.  It is the perfect day for community celebrations.