The queen honey bee (there is usually only one in the colony) is the only bee able to lay fertilized eggs. Without the queen, the colony will soon die. The fertilized eggs she lays are the beginning of worker bees, and workers do most of the tasks required to keep the colony alive. Unfertilized eggs become drones.
Acamellia is not a camellia is not a camellia; camellia lovers know their shrubs and will be able to tell you more than you ever wanted to know about each variety. Many of the camellias that do well in Northeast Texas are “japonicas” that can grow to 12 feet tall by 8 feet wide, like small trees. Japonicas have large glossy leaves and usually bloom in late Winter, so these shrubs are setting their flower buds now. Japonicas can withstand our cold temperatures without missing a beat. We did not even cover ours during “Snowmageddon.” Camellia japonica flowers tend to die off together, instead of falling off petal by petal. We clip japonica blooms at their peak, bring them inside, and float them in water in shallow cobalt blue bowls for bright spots of color on cold grey days.
The annual Northeast Texas Poetry Reading on Friday, 5 September at 11 AM will again occur at the Foyer of the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts on the Northeast Texas Community College campus. The public is invited for this free event, the eighteenth of its kind in as many years. As before, the Reading will feature the six readings of the highest ranked poems of the adult and student divisions, and a presentation of winning Northeast Texas images. Two speakers also will share their perceptions of our region, Lance Hinson Esq., Mount Pleasant attorney, and Sarah Whitfield, NTCC associate professor of Chemistry.
Northeast Texas Community College celebrated its Summer 2025 commencement on Friday, Aug. 15th at 7 p.m. in the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts. There were 83 students who graduated, earning six Associate of Arts degrees, 14 Associate of Applied Science degrees, two Associate of Arts in Teaching degrees, 27 Associate of Science degrees and 61 certificates of competency. Melanie Torres, a Medical Laboratory Technology graduate, gave the student welcome in both English and Spanish. Noah Pettey, who graduated with an Associate of Arts degree, delivered the student response. Russell East and Kerry Wootten were in attendance representing the NTCC Board of Trustees Congratulations, graduates! We are very proud of your accomplishments.
Welcome home, Eagles! Northeast Texas Community College teamed up with the Living Truth Fellowship, the Mount Pleasant Titus County Chamber of Commerce and Titus Regional Medical Center this week to host a free cookout lunch for dorm residents and their families on move-in day.
