By SHARRON HUDSON

MILLSAP – With all of the cold temperatures the best place to be it seems is inside.

Many took advantage of the warmth of our city hall at the Millsap Heritage Society’s regular monthly meeting. The group met for their annual membership drive over bowls of tasty chili. A lot of good ideas and information for the coming year were exchanged including that of a very informative guest speaker. Harold Lawrence from the Parker County Historical Commission provided information on how to obtain historical markers.

Also, a nominating committee was set up for election of officers at the regular February meeting. The nominating committee includes Larry Walden, Teresa Howard and Dean Hungate. If interested in being an officer in the organization you are urged to become a member (if you are not already) and contact one of these folks. The club is already in the preliminary stages of planning for the Log Cabin Days Festival in the spring. You are always welcome to join the society for a fee of $10 per person or $15 for a family annually, and even if you are not active the support is very much welcomed and appreciated. Regular meeting time is the second Monday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Log Cabin grounds.

There is much in the news about the water companies that service our area. It depends on where you live around here as to which company you buy water from. North Rural Water Company let its members know that applications are being accepted through Jan. 31 for board members. Millsap Water Supply held its annual meeting on Jan. 15, and Parker County Water recently informed their customers about rate changes.

Also, North Rural and Millsap consumers have been placed on a Stage 1 Drought Contingency Plan by authorization of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. A lot goes into the running of water systems so may we be thankful to those who volunteer to sit on the water boards and take care of the business necessary to keeping the water flowing.

With January more than half over many who like an early garden will begin to get their ground ready soon and be looking forward to the first planting. According to gardening experts our region will be in the right weather stages to plant rutabagas on February 1st, and directly after greens, onions, radishes, beets, carrots and some peas are in high profile to go into the ground.

Waldens, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary as our farm and ranch supply business, will have the onion sets on Jan. 21 and potato slips will be coming to the store beginning in February. Also they will receive the first baby chicks of the season on Jan. 24th with a series of arrival dates for many different breeds coming through March.

This is great since spring in our region typically begins mid- February and there should be good weather days for beginning the season’s farming. Congrats to Waldens on your 10th anniversary and thanks for the many ways you help and support our community!

As we look back over the Christmas holiday recognition is to be given to teacher Beth Adkins and the Millsap High School Beta Club for items that they collected for distribution to residents of Weatherford Healthcare Center. This was in conjunction with Millsap Afterschool Program students visiting the center’s folks. Sponsors commended the students on their conduct and for making Millsap proud by their participation in this endeavor. The community is thankful for our young people and the adults who help and mentor them in their volunteer efforts-one of the many reasons that Millsap is a great place to live!

As the Millsap Neighborhood Ladies Home and Garden Club prepare for the spaghetti supper on Feb. 9, they want everyone to know all of the food will be cooked from scratch and, as is the tradition, their delectable Sweet Shoppe will be open in conjunction with the meal. There will be lots of mouth-watering desserts available for very reasonable prices.

You will want to be sure to get some of these not only to finish up after all of the tasty spaghetti, salad and bread but also for munching on at home later.

Also as a part of the evening, with meal hours 4-8 p.m., there will be many good door prizes given away. It’s going to be a great evening!

Reminder: Jan. 21 is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Thanks for reading!