Lifestyle

CENTERS' PIECE: Youth suicide often leaves more questions than answers

BY MARC McQUEEN

The community has become understandably concerned and alarmed by the recent spike in youth suicides. Many groups are mobilizing and making concerted, positive efforts to address this problem, with hopes of preventing future tragedies.However, the...... Full story

GARDENING: Drip, drip may be the way to water

BY DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

The focus has been on water lately, and it will continue to be on water as long as we are faced with extreme shortages. Improved irrigation is one of the best ways you can stretch your water resources, so let’s take a look at drip...... Full story

A cachet stamped on an envelop Wednesday inside the Valentine Post Office in Valentine, Texas. The cachet will be used as a post mark on Valentines Day. The 2012 Valentine post mark was designed by Latham Garnsey who is a student at Valentine High School.

Letters by the thousands travel to tiny town

Impress sweetie with Valentine postmark

BY LYXAN TOLEDANES

VALENTINE Spanning less than half of one square mile and consisting of just around 200 people, Valentine, Texas, is, on most occasions, a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of town.But drive through the town’s main road on Highway 90, and you’ll...... Full story

GARDENING: Point your water the right way to save

BY DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Water is an on-going concern and we should be in an on-going state of adjustment make the most of our water and our landscapes. One way to adjust is to improve on irrigation.There are a number of ways to improve irrigation efficiency. One way is to...... Full story

CENTERS' PIECE: Reinforce your personal power

BY MARY BIGGS

If you want to create an art project, you need an idea and some art materials. If you want to stick up for yourself, you need to have personal power and positive self esteem. You cannot stick up for yourself if you don’t possess personal...... Full story

In this 2010 image provided by Cliff Shackelford, after two growing seasons a colorful wildscape is shown at the Shackelford home in Nacogdoches, Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is featuring a

[AP] Rethinking the yard in drought-stricken regions

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LUBBOCK Parks officials are offering Texans landscaping tips to cope with a historic drought that's taken a withering toll across the state.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department features a "Drought Survival Kit" on its website that encourages...... Full story

GARDENING: Time to repair storm damaged trees

BY DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

A big, beautiful snow was a sight to behold, but a bit heavy for leafy branches to hold. If you have limb damage from the recent snow, a little repair work may be in order.All tree species are subject to winter storm damage...especially when snow or...... Full story

CENTERS' PIECE: Social anxiety and the struggle against isolation

BY HEATHER HENDERSON

A woman stares at the phone on the table in front of her, feeling tormented because she’s afraid to pick it up and make a call she has been putting off for a week and can no longer postpone. She silently tells herself she is acting...... Full story

Artist Shelly Kirkmeyer works on a West Texas-themed wall mural recently at Basin Compliance.

Artist colors Odessa buildings

Murals are her hallmark

BY AMY SHEKARCHI

Kneeling on the floor of Basin Compliance’s fluorescent-lit hallway, Shelly Kirkmeyer faces the wall, paintbrush in hand. Carefully she shades the green pump jack she’s spent weeks painting onto the wall. To the artistically...... Full story

GARDENING: Time to tweak the landscape

BY DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Many plants are stressed from the extreme cold, heat and drought of 2011. Help your limping landscape with some of the following practices for 2012.First of all, evaluate your landscape. What survived, what’s stressed and what didn’t...... Full story

CENTER'S PIECE: Encountering difficulties when considering counseling

ANNETTE SEGURA

Seeking counseling can be one of the hardest things to do when it comes to our health. It appears easier to go see your doctor to get checked and get medication to alleviate physical symptoms. But when it comes to mental health, one may be reluctant...... Full story

Odessa woman publishes book

ODESSA AMERICAN

After watching a small plane fly low over her house and into the skyline, Odessa resident Ann Swann knew what her next story would be.Writing a short story titled “Stevie” for the 2010 Abilene Writer’s Guide contest; the entry won...... Full story

Touring Terlingua

ODESSA AMERICAN

The 11th annual Terlingua Home Tour is offering a close look at five unique Terlingua homes and guest houses Jan. 29.Tours leave at noon and 3 p.m. from the Ghost Town Porch located in front of the Terlingua Trading Company in the Terlingua Ghost...... Full story

Emily June Kelley, 15, holds her hereford steer, Grenade, while he is auctioned off at the Junior Livestock Auction Friday at the Ector County Coliseum Barn G. Grenade won the overall Grand Champion award and was auctioned off for $15,000.

Youth Stock Show shows top dollar

BY JOHN CORRALES

It begins with a man speaking in tongues, recognizing the flicks of people’s wrists or the nods of one’s head.After bewildering the crowd for minutes, it seems he’s mesmerized himself, too. Out of nowhere he snaps out of his...... Full story

CENTERS' PIECE: New Year’s Anti-Resolutions

Dr. Marcia A. Norton

What is this — an anti-resolution? A resolution implies change. As we all know, making a lasting behavioral change is not a simple process and we rarely achieve or maintain this goal. Resolutions usually lead to disappointment. So, why not try...... Full story