Drought is simply defined as less than normal precipitation based on a 30-year average. Droughts are classified as long term, lasting for several months/years, or short term, lasting several weeks. Since water use increases anywhere from 30% to 60% during the summer, there are many opportunities to conserve water in a landscape utilizing efficient irrigation.
Mulch All Planted Areas
Mulch slows evaporation of water from the soil, allowing water to infiltrate the soil efficiently; moderates the soil temperature; and breaks down into nutrients for the plants. Maintain 2 to 4 inches of mulch in all planted beds. You can also use mulch in containers.
Irrigation Efficiency Checkup
If your irrigation system is not working properly, no matter how much you water, the landscape suffers and water is wasted. Check for pipe and valve leaks (indicated by greener aster growing grass), breaks, clogged heads, sprinkler heads not working, misaligned heads, misting versus spraying due to too much pressure, water spraying onto hard surfaces and runoff into the street.
Irrigation Audit
Besides checking for leaks and other malfunctions, it is important to know how much water you are applying to your lawn and landscape. A catch can test is used to determine how long to run an irrigation system or hose-end sprinkler and how well the water is distributed over the landscape. To determine the runtime of your irrigation system: 1. Place 5 to 9 catch cans (tuna or cat food cans work great) in each irrigation zone or station. 2. Run each zone for 3 minutes to determine how much water is applied in each zone by measuring the amount of water in each catch can. (some stations may need to be run for 15 minutes to accumulate a measurable amount of water)3. To determine run time (time each station should run) use this example: if there is ¼ inch of water in each catch can after running for 3 minutes, to apply 1 inch of water set the run time for 12 minutes (This is an example, your measurements could vary greatly). 4. If the water levels in the catch cans are equal or near equal, your irrigation system is working efficiently (distributing water evenly). 5.Test each zone. Water application and distribution can vary by zone.
Mow Turfgrass at a Higher Setting
Adjust the height setting on your mower up one or two notches. Taller grass will create shade which will reduce evaporation of water from the soil and protect the roots from excessive heat.
Do not Fertilize
Plant growth naturally slows down and/or plants go dormant during a lengthy drought or when it is hot. Do not encourage new growth by fertilizing. This only adds more stress to the plant.
Drip Irrigation
Install drip irrigation (many existing irrigation systems can be converted to drip irrigation). Drip irrigation is 90% efficient compared to spray irrigation which is about 65% efficient if designed, installed and maintained properly. There is now sub-surface drip tubing available for lawn areas. Drip irrigation tubing is available for you to do it yourself or hire a licensed irrigator.
Plant Drought Tolerant Plants
Utilizing native and adaptive drought tolerant plants reduces the amount of landscape water needed. However, changes should not be made to your landscape during a drought. Wait until drought conditions and watering restrictions have lifted before making any changes. The best time to plant is during the fall, winter or early spring. Texas A&M University Horticulture Department also has an Earth Kind website full of information and a plant search database at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/. And do not forget the Texas Superstar® plants at https://texassuperstar.com/.
No matter if we are in a drought or not, there are numerous things you can do to prepare and help your landscape survive a drought. Properly designed water efficient landscapes need one inch of water per week. Many homeowners’ water their landscape two or more times a week. Frequent shallow watering produces shallow roots whereas infrequent deep watering will produce deeper roots. Deep roots have water available for an extended periods of time. Do what you can to be prepared.
Don’t forget to send your garden questions to Plant Answers at 9020 Airport Rd., Conroe TX 77303
With the summer starting off warm and hotter temperatures still ahead, there are plenty of charming Montgomery County snow cone stands and shops to sample.
As summer kicks off, here’s what to know about local frozen-treat shops:
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Lottie’s Shivers Shaved Ice
Location: 2101 Maurel Drive, Conroe
When young Conroe entrepreneur Lottie Portales was four, she started a lemonade stand. That grew into her selling snow cones from a push cart and now her Lottie’s Shivers Shaved Ice is a Conroe summer staple for a sweet treat.
She and her team including her family and local high school and college students sell flavored shaved ice out of a colorful purple building with pink trim and there’s plenty of deck area to enjoy the snow cones.
The flavors are as creative as one’s imagination allows. There’s also options for adding a scoop of vanilla, chocolate or orange sherbet ice cream.
Now Portales is a teen and this spring the team has made improvements to the floors of the building and they are scheduled to open for the season Saturday.
The Paleta Bar Lake Conroe
Location: 15258 Texas 105 West, Suite 120, Montgomery
This business opened on Lake Conroe in the Waterpoint Shopping Center in August 2023. A paleta is a Mexican frozen treat somewhat like a popsicle made with fresh ingredients and fresh fruits.
Then the popsicle can be dipped in various chocolates or coatings and rolled in candies and other toppings. They also have aguas frescas, drinks made from fresh fruits, Elotes or corn in a cup with toppings and their signature Dorinachos with Doritos nacho chips and cheese.
Montgomery Original Snoballs
Location: 14460 Liberty Street, Montgomery
At this shop in Montgomery, they promise to “Make it Snow” every day. This veteran owned and family run stand sits right outside of Jim’s Do It Best Hardware in Montgomery.
The stand is a little white house with seating on the deck and they specialize in New Orleans-style shaved ice where the ice is fine and fluffy. Don’t miss the colorful “We Heart Montgomery” mural on the side of the house.
Syrups are sourced from New Orleans and made fresh daily.
Summer hours are daily noon to 7 p.m.
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The Willis Sno-Cone Shop
Location: 308 S. Danville, Willis
The Willis Sno-Cone Shop had its opening day for the season in March and is in a small white metal building with blue railing.
Passers by can’t miss the brightly colored shaved ice mural on the side of the building. There’s also a vivid tropical-themed mural in the hang out area. There are covered picnic tables with a chalkboard for drawing and family games.
New this year is their Swamp Soda with cream syrup, a classic cola, shaved ice, coconut and lime flavoring.
The hours are from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. Sundays.
Porter SnoBall
Location: 23852 Loop 494, Porter
East Montgomery County residents have delighted in Porter Snoball sno cones since 1979.
The shop is in a white metal building with pink stripes at 23852 Loop 494 in Porter and they opened for the season April 2. They will remain open through late August.
Get ready all you wine and food lovers since the 20th Annual Wine & Food Week in The Woodlands starts next Wednesday.
In reality, it is Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday featuring some of the best in wines along with foods prepared by some of the world’s finest and most-celebrated chefs. This is your opportunity to sip and taste some of the most diverse wines around paired with a wide range of ethnic and regional foods.
This is not your normal wine events since it is carefully crafted by Clifton and Constance McDerby who started this regional wine event. Start Wednesday morning with yoga and wine followed by travel through several event rooms at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott with each room featuring wines from one of several countries paired with foods from that country.
Wine experts will escort groups of “wine tourists” to travel from each “country” to another. The dress is casual business, but the learning experiences will formally train you on each of the countries’ varied wines. These wine and food adventures focus on the wines of countries you might not be familiar with. Bring a friend to enjoy even more since food and wine experiences are best when shared. The events are mainly centered around The Marriott on The Woodlands Waterway with events in other areas such as the Rose’ Soiree on Thursday evening at one of Oprah Winfrey’s favorite event centers call the Peach Orchard. This event calls for wearing pink since the featured wines are pink in color. Last year’s event saw a few white and red wines on the serving tables in addition to the “pinks” generously poured and paired with fine finger foods.
The Carlton Woods Country Club will host “Ladies of the Vine” next Friday, featuring women leading the way in the wine industry. There are still a few tickets available for this world class, formal event with wine tastings followed by a seated lunch with a variety of courses and wines while the women wine panels discusses trends in the wine industry. My bet is that this will be fashion show of wine event patrons wearing the most fashionable clothing.
Friday evening sees a shift to a casual event of “Sips, Suds, and Sliders” at The Marriott. World-class wines, beers, and sliders will be paired with music.
Saturday is the pinnacle of wine and food events with the Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting and Chef’s Showcase. The food preparation begins that Saturday morning in the kitchens of The Marriott. I have been behind the scenes to witness a frenzy of chopping, cutting, and food preparations in a kitchen of several thousand square feet in size. As the evening approaches, the kitchen clamor becomes deafening.
All of this food preparation is for the Chef of Chef’s Competition during the Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting. While patrons sip on 500-plus different wines, the Chefs will be in various wine pods assembling their food creations for the judges to judge and for you to enjoy. The judges will determine the winning Chef who receives $5,000 and the coveted Waterford crystal Chef of Chef’s Award.
The real winner will be you as you sip on premium wines and indulge in food creations from 50 or so acclaimed Chefs. You will find me there in my tuxedo, boots, and Stetson. You can “super-size” your Saturday evening experience with the Bayway VIP Luxury Lounge. The entrance to the VIP Lounge is guarded with only those entering the Lounge with the proper credentials to enjoy ultra-premium wines there. Several years ago, I enjoyed a $3,000-plus bottle of wine in that lounge with the winemaker.
Will I get a chance to meet you at these events? For tickets to these events during the 20th anniversary of this wine and food extravaganza, go to www.WineAndFoodWeek.com.
Ron Saikowski may be reached at rsaikowski@comcast.net.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Rated R for sequences of strong violence and grisly imagesRotten Tomatoes Score: 90%In Theaters
With the immense success of 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, writer/director George Miller decided to give us the backstory for Charlize Theron’s Furiosa with this huge prequel.
Set many years before the events of Fury Road, a young child Furiosa is snatched away from The Green Place of Many Mothers by an evil Warlord named Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). Forced to watch her mother die trying to protect her, she must first find a way to survive before she can strategize her revenge. If you love the world of Mad Max, then this is a film that should have you excited, and you’ll probably walk away very happy. It is a big, epic revenge thriller with many of the elements from all of the previous films. I’ll admit that many of the big set pieces are just grander visions of the chase scenes from the last film. While they look new and cool, they are largely unoriginal and they take away from the real spirit of the film, which is about vendetta at all costs. Surprisingly, much of the film follows Furiosa as a young girl and it takes half of the film before Anya Taylor-Joy steps into the role.
She looks a little frail and fragile for the part in all honesty, but she is a fantastic actress and manages to fill Theron’s shoes just fine. The real star of the film is Hemsworth, who manages to be a perfect sadist with a warped sense of humor. You couldn’t have asked for a better villain for such a project. As you would expect, the production is stellar and Miller really wants to give the audience its money’s worth. But it’s two and a half hour running time seems pretty long and there are many moments when the film drags where it shouldn’t. It’s one of those “I liked it but didn’t love it” kind of features that has the bones of something much better, but does a good enough job in entertaining, even with its limitations. B
Hit Man
Rated R for some violence, sexual content and language throughoutRotten Tomatoes Score: 97%In Select Theaters Now, Streaming on Netflix on June 7
Texas writer/director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Bernie) brings us this great little comedy, based on a real life character, starring fellow Texan Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) as a school teacher who moonlights with the New Orleans Police Department as a fake hit man trying to set up people looking to hire one. When a beautiful and vulnerable woman (Adria Arjona) attempts to hire him to kill her abusive husband, he stops her before she can get arrested, and then ends up starting a steamy relationship in the process.
While the film is mostly a comedy, it certainly has its dark elements as the plot begins to twist, but it also turns out to be one of the most entertaining films we’ve seen this year. And while the film could have ended up being a predictable farce, Linklater keeps the movie fresh and nuanced, with a huge amount of creativity combined with a constant eye on how real people could or would behave in similar situations. This authenticity elevates the film while still delivering the laughs and the thrills.
The movie also gives Glen Powell a huge steppingstone to what will most likely be a huge career. But more than anything, I especially loved how Linklater turned the life of a very interesting dude named Gary Johnson (who passed away in 2022) into such a wild and crazy adventure that, while it might not be completely true, you really want it to be. A
Danny Minton may be reached at danny@dannyminton.com.
The Players Theatre Company will close out its 2023-24 season with the four-person American comedy-drama “Butterflies Are Free.”
The show opens at the Owen Theatre June 21 and continues weekends through July 7.
Here’s what to know about the show and the summer at the Owen Theatre:
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Play synopsis
Set in the 1970s, Don Baker, a blind young man, moves into his own apartment against the wishes of his overprotective mother. Jill Tanner, the freethinking young woman next door, takes a liking to him and his meticulously kept apartment. As they begin a closer relationship, Don’s mother, Mrs. Baker, enters to “help” her son navigate his new life.
“Butterflies are Free” is a funny, touching and emotional play about the risks that go with loving someone, according to a play description on the Owen Theatre website.
“Butterflies are Free” is a 1972 American comedy-drama film based on the 1969 play by Leonard Gershe. Goldie Hawn and Edward Albert starred in the movie as Jill and Don. Eileen Heckart received an Academy Award for her performance as Mrs. Baker.
The director
Shawn Havranek directs this Players’ season ender. He’s been in “The Foreigner,” “Wait Until Dark” and others at the Owen and “Clue,” “The Dinner Party” and “Murder on the Orient Express” with Stage Right at the Crighton Theatre.
In January 2023 he directed “Calendar Girls” at the Owen. When not at the theater, he is an educator at Humble ISD.
“I have a fondness for small casts and deep character work, especially with a romantic element and this has everything that I enjoy,” he said. “I especially like stuff written in the 1960s and 1970s because I like to see if I can maintain the original emotions that the writer wanted to convey while still making it enjoyable and appropriate for today’s audiences. It’s an interesting challenge and I enjoy it a great deal.”
The cast and crew
The cast includes Carlos A. Soto as Don, Christina Taylor Wood as Jill, Peg Sampson as Mrs. Baker and David Chapin as Ralph.
Crew members include Jennifer Prior as stage manager and head of props; Hayden Conner as production assistant and assistant director, Roger Ormiston with scenic design and head of construction and Philip Harris on sound design. Michael and Sue Hayes are costuming this play.
For Don, Havranek was looking for someone with the core of a strong heart with a combination of innocence and a seeking of discovering himself.
“Carlos was an ideal choice. More than anything else he brings an earnestness and an inner strength of character. There is a core of goodness and a desire to be good that he exudes naturally and that baseline innocence is integral to the part of Don,” he said.
Earlier this year Soto was Juano in “West Side Story” at the Crighton Theatre and was in the “Buddy Holly Story” at the Crighton in April.
Havranek hopes to bring a different perspective to the show.
“I tried to shift the direction of the show so that it’s not solely about Don’s journey but it’s just as much Jill’s journey as well so that it’s not her helping him to find a new way out, it’s also him helping her find a way to genuinely express feelings for another person,” he said.
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This summer at the Owen
This show continues through July 7. Tickets are $25 at owentheatre.com or by calling the box office at 936-539-4090.
From July 13-21, The Players host “The Rocky Horror Show 2024 Fundraiser.” In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. They are quickly swept up in the scientist’s latest experiment, and the night’s misadventures cause Brad and Janet to question everything. Tickets are $30 on the Owen website.
The 2024-25 season kicks off with 80s musical “Rock of Ages” Sept. 6-22.
While some Texas families are making summer vacation plans outside of the state, others may be headed for a hotel resort along Lake Conroe.
With Memorial Day weekend being the unofficial kickoff for its leisure season, Margaritaville Lake Resort on Lake Conroe staff are preparing for another summer of hosting 1,000 guests a day, said Tom Faust, vice president of sales and marketing for the resort.
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“We’ll run very high occupancy all summer,” Faust said, noting that the resort has 335 guest suites.
Faust describes the resort, which sits on 186 lakefront acres on Lake Conroe, as a “cruise ship on land,” offering five pools and a lazy river, 12 cabanas around the pool, 18 holes of golf, a spa and salon, boat rentals and sunset cruises.
Here’s what to know about the hotel resort for those visiting this summer:
New amenities at the resort
The hotel resort has added several new activities for guests to enjoy, including magic shows and axe throwing.
Magic shows at the resort are scheduled every Saturday, performed by Atlantic City Entertainer of the Year Award Nominee Harry Maurer and a rotating series of other magicians that have been on TV, casino showrooms, comedy clubs and other major venues across the country, the resort’s website states.
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The magic shows run through Aug. 31 and seating is first come first serve. Tickets are $60 per person for general admission and $75 for VIP.
Axe throwing is being offered on the Palm Court, which tickets cost between $20 per person to $129 for a family pass.
Summer discounts
People looking to book a room can get 40 percent off for dates between June 4 to Dec. 31, the website states.
The sale includes overnight accommodations in a guest suite, with a private furnished balcony or patio, and complimentary access to amenities such as the Jolly Mon Water Park, Fin City Arcade, Parrot Island Mini Golf, tennis, pickleball and the Fins Up Fitness Center.
In order for guests to take advantage of the sale, stays must be booked by June 4.
Day trips and passes
The resort also offers day passes and cabana rentals for people looking to take a day trip over the weekend — at a cost of $49 a ticket.
The day pass includes access to the three-acre water park with a lazy river, splash zone, a private beach, heated-infinity pool, water slides and heated waterslide pool, and two hot tubs. The day pass also includes access to mini golf, an arcade; tennis, pickleball and basketball courts.
Attracting guests from Houston and Texas
The resort sees roughly 80 percent of guests from the Houston region, Faust said.
“We’re very Texas oriented,” he said. “It’s a lot of people who drive in and…are surprised when they get here that they’ve got a resort that offers the amenities that we do, that’s an hour drive at most points in Houston.”
Faust also said that the resort sees a lot of guests from around Texas as well, noting that it’s less of a hassle than travelling outside of the state.
“There’s as much to do here for every person,” Faust said, noting the resort caters to a lot of families. “We do a lot of family activities. We also have couples that come and enjoy the weekend with ample opportunity to eat and drink and have a good time.”
A cemetery where many residents of the Freedmen’s Town of Tamina are buried will receive a new historic marker in the days leading up to Juneteenth.
Tamina’s Sweet Rest Cemetery is the final resting place of around 200 individuals, including former slaves, Native Indigenous people, law enforcement officers and veterans.
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In 2021, the cemetery in South Montgomery County was designated a historic place by the state of Texas.
At 10 a.m. June 15, the Montgomery County Historical Commission will dedicate a new Montgomery County Historical Marker on the spot.
Here is what to know about the cemetery and the historical commission:
The historical commission
The Montgomery County Historical Commission is an arm of Montgomery County government and not a nonprofit organization. As of January, the commission had 38 members who are appointed for two-year terms by the Commissioners Court.
Commission volunteers support numerous preservation projects in the county.
The volunteer members also have a countywide historical marker program. The first county historical marker was placed at Shepard’s Barber Shop in downtown Conroe in 2015. It is the longest barber shop in continuous operation in Montgomery County.
Other markers placed since then celebrate the historical significance of people, buildings, churches and other landmarks.
History of the cemetery
“Founded in 1871, the Tamina community served as a post-Civil War community of Freedmen, that is, previously enslaved African Americans from nearby plantations,” said Larry Foerster, chairman of the historical commission. “The historic Sweet Rest Cemetery is the final resting place of decades of former Tamina residents.”
The grave sites date back to 1870, including those of Tamina’s founding fathers. Some of those buried there include John Elmore, the first Black mail carrier in Montgomery County, Mary Louise “Aunt Lou” Williams an early mid-wife to the Tamina area who died at age 103, U.S. Navy veteran Cornelius Leon Amerson and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Robert Dewayne Easley.
In 2018, Elijah Easley, a longtime Tamina resident and board chairman of the nonprofit Tamina Cemetery Project and Community Development Corporation organized an effort to restore the cemetery where many of his Easley relatives are buried.
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In the previous years, the cemetery was left dormant and became overgrown and some areas of the cemetery were under water. Restoration projects have taken place in recent years there. Also in May 2021, the community’s Memorial Day celebration took place there.
Easley was a leading force behind the cemetery’s restoration. He died in April 2023.
The dedication will take place the Saturday prior to Juneteenth marked on June 19. The date of June 19, 1865, which was later shortened to “Juneteenth,” marks the announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army general Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas.
Forester said the dedication ceremony will last no longer than 30 minutes and additional announcements about the dedication will be provided as the date approaches.
The cemetery is located near Hollins Road and Sweet Rest Road in the Tamina community.
The month of June brings an anime convention, a celebration of wine and food, a summer music series, the celebration of Juneteenth and more to Montgomery County.
Here’s what to know about events coming to the county to kick off summer in June:
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KimoKawaii anime convention
Silverback Events hosts the 3rd Annual Kimo Kawaii Anime Experience & Convention June 1-2 at the Lone Star Convention Center.
Featured guests include Jade Kelly, an American voice actress at Sentai Filmworks, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld a voice actress known for her roles in “Pokémon” as Nurse Joy and Bonnie, as well as the main characters in “Polly Pocket” and “Strawberry Shortcake; Melanie Kohn, renowned for her portrayal of “Lucy van Pelt” from 1974-77 in various iconic Peanuts specials and Bradley William Smith who is an actor, voice-over artist and stand-up comedian from Houston.
The event also includes vendors and a cosplay contest.
20th Annual Wine & Food Week
This year’s 20th annual Wine and Food Week will include hundreds of wines, 20 special guests and a chef’s competition June 3-9 at venues around The Woodlands.
Since 2004, the H-E-B-sponsored event has hosted dozens of events and hundreds of wines, supported local chefs and raised more than $2 million for local charities.
Highlights this year include a new yoga and breakfast event and wine around the world showcase June 5, a fashion show featuring wines June 6 and the finale is the The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting and Chef Showcase featuring more than 30 chefs from the Houston area on Saturday evening.
Juneteenth in Tamina
The nonprofit Children’s Books on Wheels is hosting its annual Juneteenth celebration and fish fry from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19 at the Sleepy Hollow Multipurpose Building in Tamina, 9847 Sleepy Hollow Road, Conroe.
The date of June 19, 1865, which was later shortened to “Juneteenth,” marks the announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army general Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas.
The Tamina community in South Montgomery County sprung up in the 1870s with the founders of Tamina being among those newly freed from slavery, who had the money to purchase their own land.
Today, Tamina is still home to several descendants of those who first established this community. Rita Wiltz, founder of Children’s Books on Wheels, is descended from several of the community founders.
The project chronicling Tamina’s history “The Ground On Which I Stand” will also be on display during the event. Fish fry plates are $20 with proceeds benefiting children’s literacy. Call or text Wiltz at 281-844-7596 for details.
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Outdoor music
The Waterway Nights summer series offers music on The Woodlands Waterway at Waterway Square 31 Waterway Place Saturdays in June. Enjoy live music by local and regional performers for the series.
The schedule is June 1 — Time Warp (80s, 90s & Today’s Hits); June 8 — D’Luna (Variety); June 15 — Yelba (Latin/Variety); June 22 — Bayou Junction (Zydeco/Country/Classic Rock) and June 29 — RL Bell and The Force (Funk/Motown/Rock/R&B) featured on “America’s Got Talent.”
Coolers, picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs are permitted. Glass is prohibited. All entertainment is weather-dependent and subject to change.
Concerts are free of charge and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Also in Conroe from 7 to 10 p.m. June 6 the city of Conroe hosts its First Thursday Free Concert Series with Escape a Journey tribute band at Heritage Place Park in downtown Conroe.
Bring chairs and blankets. Food and beverages may be brought in with the exception of glass containers. Food trucks onsite as well.
Patriotic celebrations
The last weekend in June is also the weekend before the Fourth of July which falls on a Wednesday this year. Conroe will once again host its Stars & Stripes Celebration June 29 in downtown Conroe at Heritage Place Park. Festivities are from 6 to 9:30 p.m. with fireworks at 9:15 p.m. over downtown Conroe.
Also expect live music, vendors, activities and food trucks.
The annual Celebrate America event returns to Mims Baptist Church in Conroe with events June 30 and July 3. A patriotic worship service is planned for 10:30 a.m. June 30 with patriotic music.
At 5:30 p.m. July 3, the church hosts family-friendly activities, including food trucks, inflatables for the kids, family games and fireworks around 9 p.m.
The church is at 1609 Porter Road in Conroe.
Claire Partain contributed to this report.
Many around the Houston region have wondered about the name of a city sandwiched between Conroe and Cleveland.
“Why is it named Cut and Shoot?” some ask. Or, in some instances, a front man for one of the biggest rock bands of the 60s will give a shout out to the uniquely-named small town.
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But, beyond the history behind the name of the city, there are more reasons for people passing through to make a visit, whether it’s elephants or learning how to fly a plane.
Here is what to know about Cut and Shoot before visiting:
What is Cut and Shoot known for?
Cut and Shoot became well known when local boxer Roy Harris fought Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title in 1958.
Harris was a four-time Texas Golden Gloves amateur champion, won his state Olympic Trials in 1952, and won the Joe Louis Sportsmanship Award at the 1954 National Golden Gloves.
Harris’ boxing success brought national fame to his birthplace of Cut and Shoot. After retiring from the sport, he went on to serve for 28 years as county clerk in Montgomery County.
Harris was born June 29, 1933, in Cut and Shoot. He died in August at the age of 90.
Why is it named Cut and Shoot?
The small town acquired its name in July 1912. According to information from the city taken from “A History of Montgomery County, Texas” by William Harley Gandy, that year, a combination church and schoolhouse, called the Community House, was built. It was understood that all dominions were privileged to preach there except the Mormons and Apostolics.
However, an Apostolic preacher was invited to speak by local brethren at the Community House, sparking a feud that split into two camps: those who believed the Community House should be open to every denomination and those who thought it should be closed to the Apostolics.
On the day of the meeting by the Apostolics, each side showed up with their guns and knives at the Community House.
As the people argued, an 8-year-old boy became scared and yelled out, “I’m scared! I’m going to cut around the the corner and shoot through the bushes in a minute.”
That was when the town’s name was coined. No actual cutting or shooting occurred that day.
Elephants in the country
Since the 80s, the East Texas Elephant Experience has been providing elephant, camel rides, and educational programs at renaissance festivals throughout the United States, according to the organization’s website.
The organization is in the care of three elephants at their facility off Texas 105: Paige, Krissy and Jeanie. The organization also has two camels, a zebra and pygmy goats.
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While the facility is usually closed through the months of June and July, it operates regularly from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tour guides are also offered, with dates varying depending availability. The ticket price for a tour is $125 per person.
For more information, visit easttexaselephantexperience.com.
Chennault Aviation Academy
The Chennault Aviation Academy, which aims to help young pilots turn lessons into airline careers, opened its new headquarters in November at a redeveloped airstrip that was once the abandoned Cut and Shoot airfield.
The airstrip that was most recently pasture land had been redeveloped into a 3,100-foot paved runway with a hangar for 10 training planes, fueling area, flight simulator and headquarters for the school.
The flight school has around 170 students and offers a roughly three-year degree for pilots who want to fly for a commercial airline. Students can begin training as a junior in high school.
For more information, visit caacxo.com.
Restaurants in the town
While there is a handful of restaurants in the town that’s 2.71 square miles, it does offer a variety of food cuisine’s such as barbecue and Tex-Mex.
Willies BBQ and Burgers, for example, is a restaurant off Texas 105 and offers food cooked straight from the grill.
El Barquito Seafood off Texas 105 serves seafood as well as Tex-Mex dishes, while also hosting a variety of shows — including DJ sets and karaoke.
For more information, visit williesbbqandburgers.com and barquitoseafood.com.
Reporter Catherine Dominguez contributed to this story.
Patience paid off for the Lake Creek baseball team in the decisive game of their regional semifinal series against Friendswood.
The Lions drew 10 free passes and steadily built a lead before four hits broke the game open in a three-run sixth, leading to a 9-5 victory in Game 3 on Friday at Cypress Falls High School.
Lake Creek had to wait a little longer to celebrate than anticipated, as Friendswood sent 10 batters to the plate trailing 9-1 in the seventh. But Parker Smith’s full-count fastball finally ended the series with the bases loaded.
“Parker, he’s been there, done that before,” Lake Creek coach Jeremy Schramm said. “He’s done a great job for us, everything he’s done. He’s the guy we would want in that situation any day.”
Lake Creek (30-10) sets up a Region III-5A championship series rematch with Magnolia West. The Mustangs, who swept Santa Fe in their semifinal series, won last year’s battle of District 21-6A rivals to advance to the state tournament.
“We’re going to enjoy this and we’ll get to work on Magnolia West tomorrow,” Schramm said.
The Lions rebounded from a 5-4 loss to Friendswood (30-7) in Game 1, holding on for a 6-4 win in Game 2. Lake Creek led by at least four runs in every game.
“Last week we started the same way,” Lake Creek right fielder Jackson Marshall said. “It shows we can bounce back. We don’t give up. We’re a good team together.”
Marshall drove in three runs with a sacrifice fly and two singles, leading a productive night from the back half of the lineup.
While cleanup hitter Davis Lee reached base three times, No. 9 hitter Carson Lange reached base in all four appearances, including two singles.
Leighton Scott added two hits and a walk, while Reed Newkirk reached base three times as well. The Lions led 2-0 before their first hit, while Wyatt Davis drove in two runs despite a 0-for-5 night.
“I feel like our situational hitting was really good this series,” Schramm said. “We were moving guys over, we hit behind runners. We took the ground ball RBI when we needed it. We just played good baseball. It wasn’t all about home runs and all of that. It was about moving guys over and executing.”
The Lions led 6-1 in the fifth, sparked by Smith’s leadoff double. Scott, Marshall and Lange singled in runs in the sixth.
Right-hander Zack Alarid gave the Lions four strong innings on the mound, allowing one run on three hits while walking four and striking out two.
“Zack did a great job of pitching,” Schramm said. “He spotted his fastball, threw multiple pitches for a strike and kept them off balance. He did an outstanding job, got us through the fourth inning and allowed us to turn the ball over to Parker.”
Alarid limited damage in the second, pitching out of a bases-loaded jam, then stranded two more in the fourth with the help of a spectacular diving catch by center fielder Sam Lee.
“I was trying to work in some two seams in, I had some good run,” Alarid said. “Curveball was working, changeup was working. But I couldn’t do that without the guys behind me. The fielders back there, getting me help, it was great.”
Friendswood did not go quietly, finally getting to Smith in the seventh. The right-hander started the postseason with 10 scoreless innings before a two-out grand slam by Lane Vegas, his third of the postseason.
Friendswood sent four more batters to the plate but saw an impressive season end. The Mustangs, who reached the state tournament in 2022, swept Nederland, Milby and Port Neches-Groves to return to the regional semifinals.
Lake Creek, which has reached the semifinals or better four consecutive years, could advance to its first state tournament.
The Lions have to get past Magnolia West, which returned to the postseason as a No. 4 seed. Lake Creek swept the district series 5-4 and 6-5.
“I think we got this,” Marshall said. “Playing them in district, we had a couple good games against them.”
