WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXVIII NUMBER 27 Section 1 8 pages
July 5, 2023 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and Fallon Clepper
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Texas “Much To Be Proud Of” Boaters Urged to Article by Mark Hooker ‘Clean,
Weekly
Drain and Dry’ to Stop Aquatic Invasive Species
Fishing had in 2022, where they Gas Prices TeamThehadMISD decisions to be w e n t t o t h e N a t i o n a l Average gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 8.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.12/g today, according to GasBuddy's survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 7.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 125.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 3.4 cents in the last week and stands at $3.80 per gallon. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas was priced at $2.56/g yesterday while the most expensive was $4.17/g, a difference of $1.61/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.56/g while the highest was $4.17/g, a difference of $1.61/g. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 4.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.50/g today. The national average is down 1.9 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 129.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country. Historical gasoline prices in Texas and the national average going back ten years: July 3, 2022: $4.37/g (U.S. Average: $4.79/g) July 3, 2021: $2.81/g (U.S. Average: $3.12/g) July 3, 2020: $1.88/g (U.S. Average: $2.17/g) July 3, 2019: $2.45/g (U.S. Average: $2.76/g) July 3, 2018: $2.65/g (U.S. Average: $2.87/g) July 3, 2017: $2.03/g (U.S. Average: $2.22/g) July 3, 2016: $2.09/g (U.S. Average: $2.27/g) July 3, 2015: $2.56/g (U.S. Average: $2.77/g) July 3, 2014: $3.49/g (U.S. Average: $3.67/g) July 3, 2013: $3.33/g (U.S. Average: $3.47/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $2.97/g, down 0.7 cents per gallon from last week's $2.98/g. San Antonio- $3.05/g, down 15.0 cents per gallon from last week's $3.20/g. Austin- $3.11/g, down 9.1 cents per gallon from last week's $3.20/g. "Just ahead of Independence Day, the national average has fallen to its lowest level since late April, with oil prices remaining under considerable pressure due to a cloudy outlook for the global economy. We could see gasoline prices under some additional pressure soon, especially as we head into the closing innings of summer next month," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "For now, gasoline demand will likely ramp up as we enter the peak of the s u m m e r, w i t h m i l l i o n s o f Americans set to take to the roads with some of the season's lowest average gasoline prices. At the half point of the year, the national average is right at level we anticipated for a full year average. While that's good news, I believe we may see prices close out the second half of the year below our expectations, which would be welcome news for motorists, and the possibility exists that the national average this fall could fall under $3 per gallon." SOURCE GasBuddy
Index
made, as they had members of the Team earn the right to be at two different events, with two different High School Tournament organizations, all on the same week-end in late June. Several Members were double qualifiers, meaning that they had qualified for both events, and had to make some tough choices. On one hand, would they want to stay local and fish in the highly thought of Texas High School Bass Association Angler of the Year Tournament on Lake Palestine, or would they want to go to Lacrosse Wisconsin, where they would have the opportunity to compete in the Bass Federation National Championship a n d Wo r l d F i n a l s . Decisions, Decisions. Those that qualified for both Championships made the toughest decision of their young angling careers, and chose to go to Wisconsin. This by no means, was an easy choice for not only the Anglers, but their Parents and Captains as well, as it was an arduous 22 hour drive towing boats all the way up to the Mississippi River in Lacrosse Wisconsin. This was most likely fueled by the success that Fallon Clepper and Wyatt Ford
Championship on Lake Pickwick in Alabama, and came home as National Champions. Also, the opportunity to compete for over a Million Dollars in Scholarships probably didn’t hurt much either. Fast forward a year to 2023, and we had four Individual Teams qualify to compete in this prestigious event, hosted by the Bass Federation. These four Teams earned this right by being in the top 10% of the TBF event held back in April on Lake Conroe. Wyatt Ford and Reece Findley won this event on Conroe, and were crowned the Bass Federation’s Texas State Champions. They were followed by Fallon Clepper and Matthew Jones, who came in second, along with Blayne Beall and Aidan Castro placing third, and Jackson Wilkerson and Jack Haag nailing down the 4th and final spot out of 48 Teams competing in this TBF National Championship Qualifying event. These four Teams did well, all catching and weighing fish over this multi day tournament, where the first two days, everyone competed for the Top 10 Spots out of 256 Team Field, to earn the right to move on to the
Clepper - Jones
third and final day in the National Championship. Unfortunately, MISD did not have any Teams crack the Top 10 in this event, but rest assured, they represented all of us here in Montgomery in stellar fashion. In fact, Fallon Clepper and Matthew Jones did so well, that they were the highest placing Team from Texas. Since TBF has a unique format, all Teams that were not in the Top 10 for the National Championship, had the opportunity to compete in a second chance event on Friday,
looking to qualify for the World Finals to be held on Saturday. Leading the c h a rg e a n d n a r r o w l y missing the cut for the World Finals was Wyatt Ford and Reece Findley, who weighed in the maximum 3 Fish Limit for 9 pounds 4 ounces, missing the cut by 3 ounces. As stated previously, all the Teams weighed in fish at t h e To u r n a m e n t , a n d Fallon Clepper and Matthew Jones had the distinction of weighing in a limit all three days of
See MISD, page 2
Grand Opening of VFW Post In Montgomery
Members of The Birthplace of the Lone Star VFW Post 12223 pose for a photo following the Official Grand Opening Celebration held at the Lone Star Community Center in Montgomery, Texas
Community............2, 3, 4, 8
Michael John Foy Day saw his vision Devotional..........................5 to establish a new Legals.............................6, 7 Chapter of the Veterans Commentary.......................3, 4
Business Directory.............8
of Foreign Wars in his h o m e t o w n o f M o n t g o m e r y Te x a s become a reality on July
1 , 2 0 2 3 d u r i n g a n C o m m u n i t y C e n t e r, O u t s t a n d i n g a n d 2500 Lone Star Parkway inspiring celebration See VFW, page 2 held at the Lone Star
AUSTIN – Every year, Texans enjoy the Fourth of July by soaking in the summer sun on the water. T h e Te x a s P a r k s a n d Wi l d l i f e D e p a r t m e n t (TPWD) urges boaters and paddlers to do their part to protect the Texas lakes we love from aquatic invasive species during the heart of boating season. “While we want everyone to have a great time, we also want them to avoid giving invasive species free rides to new lakes,” said Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland Fisheries regional director. “The best way to prevent the spread of many harmful aquatic invasive species is to clean, drain and dry your boats and equipment every time.” Zebra mussels and giant salvinia continue to spread to new areas in Texas. While they remain as some of the biggest threats to Texas lakes, other highly invasive species that boaters can transport include water hyacinth, crested floating heart and quagga mussels. Zebra mussels, a nonnative shellfish that attaches to hard surfaces, also pose a significant threat to our lakes. These invasive mussels damage boats and infrastructure for water supply and control, alter lake ecosystems and cause harm to native species. They also litter shorelines with hazardous, sharp shells that impact lakefront recreation. “Zebra mussels and quagga mussels can be attached to boats or even carried by anchors or attached to plants clinging to boats,” said Monica McGarrity, TPWD senior scientist for aquatic invasive species. “Microscopic zebra mussel larvae can be transported in residual water in the boat. Taking just a few minutes to clean, drain and dry boats can make a huge difference in our efforts to prevent further spread of this highly damaging species and harm to Texas lakes.” Zebra mussels are now found in 36 Texas lakes across seven river basins, as well as in river reaches downstream of infested lakes. TPWD and partners monitor numerous at-risk lakes around the state for early detection of zebra (and closely related quagga) mussels, but once they’ve been introduced and become established in a lake, nothing can be done to control or eradicate
See Boaters, page 3
them. G can p “T enhan avoid drain, Gi limitin TP