WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXX NUMBER 26 Section 1 8 pages
July 2, 2025 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and Connor Benge #43, LSU Pitcher
Montgomery County’s Only Locally Owned Newspaper
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Montgomery, Texas 77356
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3 Tips To Pick Montgomery Granddaughters Texas Out A Sweet Watermelon Bring Home Big Wins from Weekly Gas Prices APHA World Show
Average gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 12.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.72/g today, according to GasBuddy's survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 1.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 37.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 2.7 cents in the last week and stands at $3.676 per gallon. GasBuddy today also released (https://go.gasbuddy.com/july-42025) its 2025 Independence Day gas price forecast, projecting the national average price of gas fall to $3.15 per gallon on July 4, down nearly 35 cents from last year’s July 4 average to the lowest Independence Day tally since 2021. Though recent events have caused some turmoil and volatility in energy markets, gas prices have returned to decline due to cooling Middle East geopolitical tensions and increased oil production from OPEC in recent months. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas was priced at $2.35/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.99/g, a difference of $1.64/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.35/g while the highest was $3.99/g, a difference of $1.64/g. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 3.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.14/g today. The national average is up 1.1 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 32.1 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: June 30, 2024: $3.09/g (U.S. Average: $3.46/g) June 30, 2023: $3.14/g (U.S. Average: $3.50/g) June 30, 2022: $4.45/g (U.S. Average: $4.85/g) June 30, 2021: $2.80/g (U.S. Average: $3.12/g) June 30, 2020: $1.88/g (U.S. Average: $2.18/g) June 30, 2019: $2.42/g (U.S. Average: $2.71/g) June 30, 2018: $2.65/g (U.S. Average: $2.85/g) June 30, 2017: $2.04/g (U.S. Average: $2.23/g) June 30, 2016: $2.11/g (U.S. Average: $2.28/g) June 30, 2015: $2.57/g (U.S. Average: $2.77/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $2.71/g, down 17.6 cents per gallon from last week's $2.89/g. San Antonio- $2.66/g, down 24.3 cents per gallon from last week's $2.91/g. Austin- $2.72/g, down 19.8 cents per gallon from last week's $2.92/g. “The national average price of gasoline has resumed its decline, with falling prices driven by easing tensions in the Middle East—just weeks after those same tensions had pushed prices higher," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum a n a l y s i s a t G a s B u d d y. " F o r motorists planning to hit the road for Independence Day, gas prices are expected to continue falling nearly coast to coast in the lead-up to July 4. Relief could expand as the holiday weekend approaches, with the national average on track to hit its lowest July 4 level since 2021 at $3.15 per gallon, we project. As long as tensions in the Middle East remain contained and the U.S. avoids a major hurricane, we could see the national average fall below $3 per gallon later this summer." SOURCE GasBuddy
Index Community................2, 3, 8
Commentary...............2, 3, 4, 5 Church Directory..............5 Legals.............................6, 7 Business Directory.............8
Cousins Reese Fischer and Adalyn Stultz Earn Multiple Titles at Prestigious National Event
Adalyn Stultz
FORT WORTH, TX — Two cousins with deep Montgomery roots, Reese Fischer and Adalyn Stultz, recently made their hometown proud at the 2025 American Paint Horse Association ( A P H A ) Wo r l d Championship Show, held June 20–July 6 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Both
riders delivered standout performances on a national stage, earning multiple Wo r l d a n d R e s e r v e Champion titles as well as NSBA (National Snaffle Bit Association) honors. Reese Fischer and “Your One and Only” (Stella) Reese Fischer of New B r a u n f e l s , Te x a s , competed in the Youth
Walk Trot division aboard her horse Your One and Only, affectionately known as Stella in the barn. Reese earned:World Champion – Youth Walk Trot Trail, World Champion – Youth Walk Trot Showmanship, a n d R e s e r v e Wo r l d Champion – Youth Walk See APHA , page 8
Montgomery Native Connor Benge Helps Lead LSU Baseball to National Championship MONTGOMERY, TX – Montgomery High School graduate Connor Benge is making headlines on the national stage as a key bullpen arm for the LSU Tigers, who recently captured their eighth national baseball title with an undefeated run in Omaha.Benge, a 2022 graduate of Montgomery High School and former District MVP, began his collegiate career at LSU Eunice, where he earned All-American honors as a freshman. He transferred to Dallas Baptist University for his sophomore year before joining LSU for his junior season after entering the transfer portal.A righthanded pitcher, Benge has been a critical part of the Tigers’ bullpen, topping out at 98 miles per hour on the mound. Known for his competitive edge and steady presence under pressure, he played an essential role in LSU’s dominant postseason performance.“This has been a dream come true,”
See Benge, page 2
Connor Benge, Montgomery High School Class of 2022, celebrates LSU’s national title win in Omaha. The right-handed pitcher played a key role in the Tigers' bullpen this season.For more about Connor’s path from Dallas Baptist to LSU, see Sports Illustrated: tigerrag.com+4si.com+4dbupatriots.com+4
A ripe, juicy watermelon can be a mouthwatering snack on a hot summer day Looking for the perfect summer snack? A ripe, sweet watermelon is hard to beat — if you know how to pick a good one. T h i s s e a s o n , Te x a s watermelons are high quality and prices are lower for shoppers. So now is a great time to enjoy this refreshing, healthy fruit. An expert shares how watermelon sweetness is measured and how to spot the best one at the store or farmers market. Sweetness that is off the charts Watermelon sweetness is measured using the Brix scale, which indicates the sugar content. On this scale, 10 is considered standard, while 11-12 means a melon is extra sweet. This year, Juan Anciso, Ph.D., a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service vegetable specialist, Weslaco, and associate head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said Texas watermelon producers are reporting exceptional quality and consistently finding fruit with 11 Brix. Here are three tips from Anciso to choose the best fresh watermelon. Texas watermelons in cardboard crates. Watermelon cut out in the shape of a star being placed on a plate. Wa t e r m e l o n s a r e a favorite summer treat. Choose your watermelon by following these expert tips. (Sam Craft, Laura M c K e n z i e / Te x a s A & M AgriLife) Tip 1: Find the yellow belly, or the field spot Other than cutting open a watermelon to see the inside, the field spot may be the best sign of ripeness. This spot shows where a melon was lying on the ground while attached to the vine. If the watermelon is ripe, the field spot should be a large yellow patch on one side. The color should be a creamy, almost butter-like yellow. The bigger the yellow belly and the creamier the color, the more time the melon ripened on the vine. However, if the spot is small or looks more white than yellow, the melon may not be ripe. Stacked watermelons. Field spots on watermelons should be a c r e a m y, a l m o s t b u t t e r y yellow color and the larger the better when looking for a ripe watermelon. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife) Tip 2: Tap the underbelly and listen for a deep sound Another way to find a ripe watermelon is to knock on the outside with your knuckles gently. A ripe melon will have a deeper sound, as opposed to an overripe one. A hollow thud, paired with an oversized yellow spot, indicates a melon may be mealy and overripe. Tip 3: Look for a dull color and heavy watermelon Although they may not be the prettiest or the easiest to carry to your car, the best watermelons are dull in color and heavy. A shiny melon means the insides are underripe. Also, the best melon of the bunch will most likely be the heaviest one. A heavier melon likely holds more water. On average, a watermelon is 92% water, which is what makes it so juicy.