The state tree of Texas is the pecan tree. Our charming city was built within a pecan tree orchard. It is a beautiful community due in part from the lovely presence of pecan trees. When the city was in its infancy, it was the responsibility for each homeowner to spray his/ her own pecan trees to address those annoying and destructive webworms. But those efforts could be for naught if neighbors elected to ignore the webworm threat. The freshly sprayed tree could be infested again in no time if pests in neighboring untreated tree’s got bored and moved on to your previously treated tree.

The growth of industrial-scale users of power could strain the Texas power grid, ERCOT’s chief announced last week. The Dallas Morning News reported Pablo Vegas, the agency’s CEO, said bitcoin miners and artificial intelligence data centers going in across the state, as well as industrial growth in the Permian Basin, could create the need for a massive buildup of power transmission lines in the future.

Let’s talk water – or water conservation, to be more specific. It’s that time of year when we’re enjoying the fantastic spring weather and hoping it lasts through July.

Two parishioners of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church recently received a prestigious national award in recognition of their leadership with benevolence activities in the Highland Lakes area on behalf of the Horseshoe Bay church.

We all know the feeling of having something on our minds that we have a difficult time letting go of. Similar to an image or a catchy song that gets stuck in our head, com - monly called an earworm, negative thoughts can be very difficult to remove and the more we replay them the more familiar they become.

Early voting began Monday, April 22 for municipal, school board and various bond elections. It ends on April 30 with Saturday, May 4 being election day. What is on the ballot depends on where you live.

With the rain we have been having, several readers have asked about burning. If you are in doubt about any of the following guidelines, please call your local authorities to verify your concern. Legal guidelines are set forth by the county and the city in which you reside.

Burnet County and Llano County residents can do some spring cleaning with this weekend’s re-use and recycling collection events. The details for both events vary in that Burnet County’s event accepts more items.

As we enter the severe weather season, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar reminds Texans they can purchase certain items tax free during the state’s sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies, which begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 29.