WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXX NUMBER 1 Section 1 8 pages
January 7, 2026 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and Debbe Mitchell
Montgomery County’s Only Locally Owned Newspaper
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Texas Kicking-off the New Year Venezuela: A Historical Weekly of America's 250th Birthday Turning Point Gas Prices Celebration
Average gasoline prices in Texas have risen 0.3 cents per gallon in the last week, a v e r a g i n g $ 2 . 3 3 / g t o d a y, according to GasBuddy's survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 11.3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 29.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 2.3 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.498 per gallon. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas was priced at $1.76/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.29/g, a difference of $1.53/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $1.76/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of $1.53/g. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 1.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.74/g today. The national average is down 21.2 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 29.2 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 five years: January 5, 2025: $2.62/g (U.S. Average: $3.03/g) January 5, 2024: $2.65/g (U.S. Average: $3.08/g) January 5, 2023: $2.85/g (U.S. Average: $3.26/g) January 5, 2022: $2.88/g (U.S. Average: $3.30/g) January 5, 2021: $1.95/g (U.S. Average: $2.28/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $2.23/g, down 7.5 cents per gallon from last week's $2.30/g. San Antonio- $2.40/g, up 15.7 cents per gallon from last week's $2.24/g. Austin- $2.42/g, up 13.5 cents per gallon from last week's $2.28/g. “Another week, and motorists have been greeted with the sixth straight weekly decline in the national average price of gasoline as seasonality continues to drive trends at the pump,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “While more states did see prices rise this week, most of those increases were in ‘price-cycling’ markets, where routine jumps often follow larger declines. Elsewhere, a majority of states saw prices inch lower again. And with GasBuddy’s 2026 Fuel Outlook set for release this week, we’ll soon have a clearer sense of what drivers may face next year— particularly as new developments in Venezuela put fresh attention on the global oil market. Some Americans believe gasoline prices could be impacted in a significant way, but I’m here to throw a bit of cold water on that. Even under the most optimistic outcomes, it could take years of positive developments for additional supply to meaningfully move the needle, and the impact on U.S. gasoline prices may ultimately be limited. For now, I expect gas prices to bottom out in the weeks ahead before beginning their seasonal climb toward March.” SOURCE GasBuddy
Index Community............2, 5, 7, 8 Commentary...................3, 4, 5 Church Directory..............5 Legals.................................6 Business Directory.............8
By: James M. Rankin
by David Hamaker The Freedom Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution is honored to have been chosen to participate and present the
nation's colors in a New Year's kick-off of the America 250 Anniversary Celebration hosted by The Heritage Society of Houston. The Freedom Chapter
performed the Color Guard duties and had a great time working with some old friends, Los Granaderos y Damas de Galvez Houston and making new friends with The Houston
Saengerbund, , and together with chapters of the DAR, Bernardo de Galvez Chapter SAR, See New Year , page 2
Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe Presents “Love Notes on the Lake: A Valentine’s Weekend Songwriter Festival” in the air this Valentine’s Day weekend as “Love Notes on the Lake” comes to Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe | Houston February 13-15. This unique, three-day songwriter festival celebrates music, storytelling, and heartfelt inspiration behind some of today’s most memorable songs. The event, hosted by Radio Trop Rock’s Renee Adams, will bring together accomplished singer-songwriters and music lovers for an Tina & Walt Wilkins unforgettable weekend of Montgomery, Texas – Love will undoubtedly be p e r f o r m a n c e s ,
workshops, and connection. Featured musical artists include: Thom Shepherd and Coley McCabe – Thom Shepherd is the Texas Country Music Association (TCMA) Songwriter of the Year. Together with Coley, the pair has garnered more than 10 Trop Rock Music Association (TMRA) Awards, and their Lone Star Luau Music Festival won the TMRA Event of the Year twice. Walt and Tina See Songwriter , page 2
It is remarkable to live in a moment that future generations will study, debate, and learn from. I wrote an article when the Berlin Wall fell, so likewise this event this weekend in Ve n e z u e l a e c h o e s t h e world's cry for freedom. Venezuela's modern story reads like a cultural roller coaster, a nation of dramatic rises and painful falls. This weekend marked a decisive turning point. According to reports, Ve n e z u e l a ' s l o n g t i m e leader Nicolás Maduro was widely described by critics as a dictator and alleged narco-terrorist was captured during a U.S. military operation known as Operation Absolute Resolve. The United States announced it would temporarily oversee the country's affairs until a democratic Venezuelan transition team can be assembled. To u n d e r s t a n d t h e significance of this moment, it is important to revisit Venezuela's history. Once one of Latin America's wealthiest democracies, the country experienced a profound decline as socialist policies took hold, leading to economic collapse, bankruptcy, and widespread social turmoil. The events of this weekend have renewed global attention on Venezuela's long struggle between authoritarian governance and democratic aspirations. Ve n e z u e l a g a i n e d independence from Spain in 1821, becoming part of Gran Colombia before establishing itself as a fully independent republic in 1830. The discovery of massive oil reserves later transformed the nation into one of the world's largest petroleum exporters, fueling rapid modernization and raising living standards for millions of their citizens. The political landscape shifted dramatically with the rise of Hugo Chávez, who led the Bolivarian Revolution from 1999 to 2013. Chávez promoted w h a t h e c a l l e d “21st-century socialism,” expanding state control, nationalizing industries, and implementing broad social programs. Following the U.S. operation this weekend, Venezuelans took to the streets to celebrate what many see as a long-awaited moment of liberation. It was a chance to reclaim political freedoms after years of authoritarian rule. Venezuela's history is one of immense potential repeatedly challenged by political upheaval. The recent actions of President Donald Trump involving Nicolás Maduro have reshaped the landscape of Latin America and opened the door to what some observers describe as the most significant opportunity for democratic renewal in a generation for Venezuelans.