Feb. 28 -- Throckmorton senior gets $36,000 for top lamb at San Antonio: Trent McKnight wasn't satisfied just to have the Grand Champion Market Lamb of the two-week 1998 San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Feb. 28 -- Aspermont student learns being last isn't always so bad: Whether it's a barbecue buffet or a ticket window -- somebody will be first in line and another person must be last.

Feb. 27 -- Unions look for more involvement, new image (Doug Williamson Column): Labor in the Big Country wants a new image.

Feb. 27 -- Brown County ranch wins Angus Show at Houston (J.T. Smith Column): Byler Angus Farms of Bangs exhibited the Grand Champion Bull in the Open Angus Show at the ongoing 1998 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.

Feb. 27 -- Halliburton to absorb Dresser Industries: Dresser Industries, one of the oldest companies in U.S. oil exploration, is to be absorbed by a rival, Halliburton, in a $7.7 billion stock-swap deal which will create the world's biggest oilfield services group.

Feb. 27 -- Justice Department joins lawsuit against oil companies: WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Justice Department has joined a whistle blower lawsuit alleging that four oil companies underpaid millions of dollars in royalties for oil extracted from federal property in 21 states.

Feb. 26 -- Internet access on the cheap: If the information highway is a still dead end for much of the country, a publicly owned electric utility is trying to change that in rural south-central Kentucky.

Feb. 26 -- Cascade offers playground for work-weary cubicle-dwellers: Today's topic is toys: Executive toys. We've all seen them. They're usually some everyday item that has been enhanced in some lavish way.

Feb. 26 -- New PC products all dressed up, hopefully with somewhere to go: INDIAN WELLS, Ariz. -- Once a year, technology companies come to this desert resort to show off their new ideas. Some look promising. A few, like the Palm Pilot, go on to wild success. Many more disappear like a mirage.

Feb. 26 -- Medical savings account can cover everything: How would you like to have a medical plan for yourself and your family that would cover everything?

Feb. 26 -- Innovation Center helps launch new businesses: Steve Cates says he probably would not be in business today without Abilene's Business Innovation Center.

Feb. 26 -- With a little help from these books, you can reshape your financial future: As those credit card bills come rolling in as testament to your holiday celebration, you may want to rethink those new year's resolutions.

Feb. 26 -- Starting a company takes discipline, drive: I have heard it a thousand times interviewing small-business owners: "I went into business for myself because I wanted to be the boss."

Feb. 26 -- A tips network that works: Are you tired of the same-old-same-old networking group? I'm talking about the one that meets every Monday morning at 7:15 in the back corner of Charlie's Early Bird Restaurant.

Feb. 26 -- Texas milk production down -- reverse of national trend: It's like the ol' song of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys -- "Milk Cow Blues."

Feb. 26 -- Jitters give you sharp edge during interview: Dear Mr. Walberg: How do I control interview jitters? I'm a professional, registered nurse with more than 10 years' experience. For the past five years I've been involved in home health care training of individuals and patients who need to learn how to administer their own medications, shots and IVs. This work involves going to people's homes, conducting the training and following up with telephone support.

Feb. 26 -- For some workers, part-time positions provide the only answer: CHICAGO -- for Lisa Brown-Tribbett, a speech and language pathologist with three school-age children, working part-time was a choice, and one that she loves.

Feb. 25 -- Businesses urged to oppose health care bill: Large national companies may withdraw health care benefits from their employees if proposed legislation passes through Congress.

Feb. 25 -- Hampshire sale grosses record $223,775 at Sweetwater: SWEETWATER -- Boar hogs averaged almost $2,000 each here Wednesday to cap the three-day National Southwestern Hampshire Conference.

Feb. 25 -- Internet provides forum for activism (Brian Bethel Column): Are you ready? The time is now, the place is here. We've got to be ready to FIGHT the powers that be. We've got to take a STAND on these issues. To dare to dream -- and then do.

Feb. 25 -- Wylie and Jim Ned students get $10,000 for breed champs at San Antonio: SAN ANTONIO -- An Abilene-Wylie junior came through with the Champion American Breeds and Crosses (ABC) Steer at the 1998 San Antonio Livestock Show.

Feb. 25 -- This week's Web winners: Sites to study (by): The Internet has a way of turning the simplest molehill of a subject into a mountain of Web addresses. When it comes to using the Net at homework time, it sure helps to have a few dependable places to look first -- and to know what to avoid, for your own good.

Feb. 25 -- West Texas Brangus Breeders bringing sale to Abilene (J.T. Smith Column): The West Texas Brangus Breeders annual sale is noon March 28 at Abilene Livestock Auction barn.

Feb. 24 -- Leaders of oil and gas industry face challenges: Oil and gas leaders need to become teachers, educating lawmakers and the public about the challenges the industry faces. U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm (D-Abilene) Monday told members of the West Central Texas Oil and Gas Association they need to "have the same dedication in solving long-term problems, or opportunities as I call them, as we have with other industries."

Feb. 24 -- Taylor honored with top Wilcatter Award: (Doug Williamson Column) Russell Taylor received the regional oil and gas industry's highest award - the Wildcatters Award - Monday.

Feb. 24 -- Sweetwater farm leader testifies for floor on milk prices (J.T. Smith Column): Wes Sims of Sweetwater testified the past week before a federal administrative law judge in Washington, D.C., on the hot issue of milk prices.

Feb. 24 -- Indiana and Stamford boars are high on the hogs at Hamp Conference: SWEETWATER - The top boar of the 33rd annual National Southwestern Hampshire Conference came a dab more than 1,000 miles to win here Monday.

Feb. 24 -- Survey: Job outlook to be even hotter this spring: NEW YORK (AP) - The job market for most Americans will get even hotter this spring, with employers competing heavily for a shrinking number of skilled and available workers, according to a survey being released Monday.

Feb. 22 -- Business Notebook: News and notes of interest to the local business community

Feb. 22 -- Irradiation kills bacteria; will it spook consumers?: GURNEE, Ill. (AP) -- Behind 6-foot-thick concrete walls, slender rods of cobalt-60 cast a bluish glow in a deep underground pool of water, awaiting another batch of medical equipment to sterilize. How it works

Feb. 22 -- Hampshire breeders from 14 states arrive in Sweetwater today: SWEETWATER -- The operators of some of the nation's top swine businesses will be arriving Sweetwater this afternoon to check in for the three-day National Southwestern Hampshire Meat Hog Conference.

Feb. 22 -- National Cotton Council shocked by Clinton's cuts: The National Cotton Council is deeply concerned over President Clinton's budget proposal that would cut funds for the cotton industry's Step 2 Marketing Certificate Program.

Feb. 22 -- Other computer CEOs to testify with Gates before Senate: WASHINGTON -- Bill Gates can expect some friendly faces by his side when he testifies soon at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that's expected to produce fireworks over Microsoft's alleged unfair business practices.

Feb. 22 -- "Nuisance Wildlife Appreciation Day" slated for Haskell: HASKELL -- When Dr. Dale Rollins talks about "appreciating predators" -- ranchers squirm in their seats.

Feb. 21 -- Mill use of cotton pegged at more than 11 million bales (J.T. Smith Column): USDA has estimated mill use of cotton by textile mills in this country at 11.5 million bales.

Feb. 20 -- Longevity at job earns worker new car (Doug Williamson Column): Bobbie Agnew is one of a kind these days.

Feb. 20 --Report says Texans not saving enough: AUSTIN (AP) -- A new state report says Texans are lagging behind in saving money for retirement, education, home purchases and other major events in their lives.

Feb. 20 --Federal Land Bank merger is underway (J.T. Smith Column): The Federal Land Bank Association of Cleburne, North Texas Federal Land Bank Association and the West Central Texas Federal Land Bank Association have completed a six-month merger plan.

Feb. 20 --Jets to fly into Abilene for service: Regional commuter jet aircraft will be coming to Abilene next week -- for service, not boardings.

Feb. 19 -- Consumers will pay for rise in minimum wage: Consumers will feel the effects of President Clinton's proposed $1 hike in the minimum wage.

Feb. 19 -- Roofers find storms unnecessary to stay busy: Jim and Grady Barr don't pray for hail.

Feb. 19 -- PC talk can be cheap, but pay more for better results: Q. IBM's Via Voice is much cheaper than Dragon Systems Inc.'s Naturally Speaking Continuous Speech product. Is Dragon's product worth it?

Feb. 19 -- Troubleshoot your PC and get it running right: (These are reviews of shareware programs for IBM-compatible PCs. The programs are available from the Internet and on CD-ROM from this column. Users try the programs, then pay a fee to register if they decide to use them regularly.)

Feb. 19 -- Software designed to filter out spam, or junk, messages: Like many Internet users, David Duccini and John Osborn have been bombarded with spam in recent months. Unlike most, they have the expertise to mount a sophisticated counterattack.

Feb. 19 -- Should you get a loan from your 401(k)?: Q: My wife and will be taking out a loan soon and we can't decide if we should take a home-equity loan (the interest on which we would be able to deduct from our taxes) or borrow money from our 401(k) plan. Can you tell me where I might find some information on this subject?

Feb. 19 -- Free fund info abounds on the Web: Q: You recently wrote about popular mutual fund Web sites. But what about other, perhaps less self-serving sites that carry information about mutual funds?

Feb. 19 -- Guide spells out the signs that can lead to a small-business audit: Standing out from the crowd can be dynamite for a small business -- unless the quirkiness extends to tax returns.

Feb. 19 -- The 15 things that good managers have in common: Anyone who has ever worked for a good manager knows it.

Feb. 19 -- Book won't make sucker out of readers: If the title doesn't turn you off, then you'll have a pleasant surprise inside.

Feb. 19 -- Improved ginning process could determine quality (J. T. Smith column): Good news in ginning research that could be helpful to cotton growers.

Feb. 18 -- A variety of off-ramps on the information highway: Today's journey through the World Wide Web stops are a variety interesting sites.

Feb. 18 -- National Cotton Council shocked by Clinton's cuts: The National Cotton Council is deeply concerned over President Clinton's budget proposal that would cut funds for the cotton industry's Step 2 Marketing Certificate Program.

Feb. 18 -- Chaos over trademarks means Internet sites can be misleading: WASHINGTON (AP) -- When Kathy Elkins was looking for coupons to save money on diapers for her growing family, she logged onto the Internet and went straight to www.huggies.com, a Web site run by the Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Feb. 18 -- Cyber nannies no substitute for parental involvement: The Internet is a vile, evil place fraught with salacious danger and peril on every side.

Feb. 17 -- Zachry Associates saluted this morning: Zachry Associates will be presented the Small Business Salute for the quarter this morning at 10.

Feb. 17 -- National Cotton Council shocked by Clinton's cuts (J.T. Smith Column): The National Cotton Council is deeply concerned over President Clinton's budget proposal that would cut funds for the cotton industry's Step 2 Marketing Certificate Program.

Feb. 17 -- Americans show no sign of ending their love affair with pickups: DETROIT (AP) - Pickup trucks are changing - they're getting getting bigger, faster and more luxurious - but Americans' devotion to the four wheelers is becoming an auto industry constant. While sport utility vehicle sales have surged and car sales have fallen, pickup sales have remained a steady 2.7 million or more for four straight years. About one of every five new vehicles sold is a pickup.

Feb. 17 -- Dairy farmers, processors at odds over milk floor price proposal: WASHINGTON - Dairy farmers and processors are at odds over a proposal to set a minimum price for milk, one that could increase the cost of a gallon by 10 cents but which might save many farmers from insolvency.

Feb. 15 -- Business Notebook: News and notes of interest to the local business community

Feb. 15 -- Baby Boomers' retirement picture is bleak, study finds: NEW YORK (Dow Jones News) -- The Baby Boom generation, which has set the tone in politics, culture and consumption in the United States for years, is in danger of missing the boat on saving for retirement, according to a study released Tuesday.

Feb. 15 -- Execs see coin laundries as a blockbuster business: From garbage to videos, H. Wayne Huizenga built a multibillion-dollar empire by taking over industries once dominated by mom-and-pop operators and building them into household names.

Feb. 15 -- Ag Commissioner candidate Pete Patterson to meet farmers (J.T. Smith Column): As Democratic candidate for Texas Ag Commissioner, Pete Patterson will meet farmers, ranchers and others at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in De Leon City Hall.

Feb. 15 -- West Texas is test site of 'veggie libel' laws: AMARILLO, Texas (AP) -- West Texas is getting to the meat of agriculture disparagement laws with two test cases: Oprah Winfrey's ongoing beef defamation case and a libel lawsuit filed by emu owners against an auto manufacturer.

Feb. 14 -- Abilene Cooper grad Biles is new A&M pest management agent (J.T. Smith Column):Stephen P. Biles is the new "Extension Agent-IPM" based in Sweetwater.

Feb. 13 -- Hereford Bull and Female Sale is Feb. 16 (J.T. Smith Column): Snyder will host the National Anxiety IV Hereford Breeders Bull & Female Sale Monday.

Feb. 13 -- Farmers to say yea or nay to continuing weevil program: AUSTIN - Area farmers will vote soon on whether to continue the state's boll weevil eradication program locally and try to wipe out the costly, destructive insect in the next few years.

Feb. 13 -- Retail spending tepid, job market tight: WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumers appear to be pulling back a bit in 1998 after spending strongly in 1997. A slump in auto sales offset a surge at department stores, holding retail spending overall to a tepid 0.1 percent increase in January.

Feb. 13 -- Coca-Cola widens lead over Pepsi-Cola in soft drinks: NEW YORK (AP) - Coca-Cola Co. widened its lead in the $54.7 billion U.S. soft drink market last year, but Pepsi-Cola Co.'s Mountain Dew was the fastest growing major brand, two top industry watchers said Thursday.

Feb. 12 -- Retirement catches a lot of folks with their financial pants down: You cannot start planning for retirement after you retire.

Feb. 12 -- Sims re-elected as state leader of Farmers Union (J.T. Smith Column): Sweetwater farmer Wes Sims has been re-elected president of the Texas Farmers Union. Delegates voted for Sims during the TFU's 1998 convention in Plano. It was the 94th annual meeting of the organization.

Feb. 12 -- Study: Minority women dissatisfied with prospects for advancement: NEW YORK (AP) - Most minority women in management are deeply dissatisfied with their chances for advancement, and nearly a quarter say they plan to leave their companies, a research group reported Monday.

Feb. 12 -- Home e-mail addresses popping up in the telephone book: Businesses began tacking e-mail or Internet addresses on advertisements in the Yellow Pages about three years ago. Only in the last year have U.S. phone companies offered space in the White Pages for residential customers to do the same.

Feb. 12 -- Boorish bosses, workers hinder quality work: There may be people in your organization who insult the skills of people around them. These people often drive employees, not to higher levels of achievement, but to exhaustion. They poor-mouth everything - the organization, equipment, employees, assignments - and can't seem to motivate people.

Feb. 12 -- Managing Your Career: The standard resume still has a role in job searches: Is the resume an essential career management tool or a relic of the old economy? It's still the document most employers want to see, traditionalists say.

Feb. 12 -- Looking for funding sources in all the right places: So, you've got a million-dollar idea and a $100 bankroll. Big dreams, little cash. A puzzle, to be sure, but one that, with the right pieces, can be solved.

Feb. 12 -- New law eases family farm inheritance tax: Family-owned businesses, including farms, often have been dealt a murderous blow when the owner died. The mortality rate for passing firms from the first generation to the next stands at 70 percent.

Feb. 12 -- Retrieve, repair and recycle are three "Rs" for these students: OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Sixteen-year-old German Paniagua stares intently at the brightly lit computer screen, his finger tapping rhythmically on the mouse as he zips through a series of software checks.

Feb. 12 -- FDIC may be setting bad example on year 2000, Leach says: WASHINGTON (AP) - When it comes to resolving year 2000 computer problems, the FDIC may be setting a bad example for the banks it oversees, the chairman of the House Banking Committee said.

Feb. 11 -- AOL's rate hike not worth the price: Well, they did it. If you want your AOL, you're gonna have to pay a whole $2 more.

Feb. 11 -- Oil, gas industry lobbies Congress for royalty changes: WASHINGTON -- The oil and gas industry is mounting a high priced lobbying campaign to persuade Congress to change the system of royalty payments for drilling on federal land.

Feb. 11 -- Let's go surfin' to Nagano: Here we are in the middle of the winter Olympics.

Feb. 11 -- Rolling Plains Cotton Growers elects officers at farm show: The 30-county Rolling Plains Cotton Growers (RPCG) re-elected its slate of officers during the group's annual meeting in conjunction with the first day of the 6th Big Country Farm & Ranch Show in Abilene Tuesday.

Feb. 10 -- America Online hikes monthly subscription fee by $2: NEW YORK (AP) -- America Online is hiking its monthly fee for unlimited access by $2, saying it needs to upgrade its network to handle the onslaught of people taking advantage of its flat price.

Feb. 10 -- Top businessmen like pro wrestlers (Doug Williamson Column): Flexing their muscles.

Feb. 10 -- Runnels County Ag Day takes new name and direction this year: The Runnels County Ag Day has grown so large -- and has attracted visitors from such a wide area in recent years -- that it is having to change its name.

Feb. 10 -- NBC may ask up to $2 million for 30-second ad on 'Seinfeld' finale: NEW YORK (AP) -- NBC may ask as much as $2 million for a 30-second commercial on the final episode of the series "Seinfeld" -- a figure that would top the current TV ad record by nearly 54 percent.

Feb. 10 -- Campbell Soup goes for emotional connection with new ad push: CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) -- Campbell Soup Co.'s new soup advertising tugs at the heart and uses an extended version its famous "M'm! M'm! Good" slogan.

Feb. 8 -- Investing in the 'dogs of the Dow': The "Dogs of the Dow" weren't successful hunters in 1997.

Feb. 8 -- Business Notebook: News and notes of interest to the local business community

Feb. 8 -- Some supermarkets give seniors super service: REDDING, Calif. -- Eugenia Kennedy, 93, has been in Redding so long that she remembers when the Garden Tract area in which she lives was surrounded by dirt roads. She and her husband, Donald, paid $15 a month for rent, and Kennedy insists that summers seemed hotter before Shasta Dam's construction.

Feb. 8 -- Market gurus foresee slump of slumps: It has been the best part of a lifetime since deflation figured prominently in economic prophecies and investment action, but the specter is again raising its head internationally.

Feb. 8 -- Hereford FFA'ers take grand steer wins at Fort Worth: FORT WORTH -- Despite the enormity of the steer competititon as youngsters from throughout Texas exhibited animals, both the grand honors stayed with two FFA members from the Texas Panhandle at the 102nd Fort Worth Stock Show Friday.

Feb. 8 -- Chamber of Commerce drive begins Monday: If you don't get enough of the Olympics in the Reporter-News or on TV in the next few days, you might get a boost from "Run with the Torch."

Feb. 8 -- Growers registration aimed for 10 a.m. or earlier Tuesday (J.T. Smith Column): Highlighting the 1998 Big Country Farm & Ranch Show will be the annual meeting of the 30-county Rolling Plains Cotton Growers in Abilene.

Feb. 8 -- Put down roots with your own tree from Farm Show this week: Imagine you take something home that is only about boot-high from the Big Country Farm & Ranch Show in Abilene this week, and -- in about five years -- it is nearly as tall as your house.

Feb. 7 -- Stenholm touts IMF for expanding ag markets: U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm began this legislative year with a strong emphasis on the role of the International Monetary Fund securing or expanding markets for American agricultural products.

Feb. 6 -- Gerald Galbraith of Abilene has a top bull at Three Rivers (J.T. Smith Column): A bull owned by Gerald Galbraith of Abilene was among the top of 125 animals consigned to the Live Oak Beefmasters Association Bull Sale.

Feb. 6 -- Gassed by sunlight (Doug Williamson Column): TU Electric/Lone Star Gas is sponsoring an experiment in solar energy on March 14.

Feb. 6 --Judiciary chairman Hatch, Gorton trade jabs on Microsoft: WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft Windows' domination of the desktop computer software market has been a good thing for consumers but a move toward control of the Internet could be dangerous, Sen. Orrin Hatch said Thursday.

Feb. 6 --How one-time Internet darling was bloodied by Microsoft: NEW YORK (AP) -- How far an Internet highflyer has fallen.

Feb. 5 -- Business Expo '98 will be here soon: In less than seven weeks, 214 Abilene businesses will fill the Civic Center to show their wares. Business Expo '98, the annual business trade show of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, will draw between 5,000-6,000 people on March 25.

Feb. 5 -- Farmers Union supports class action against beef packers (J.T. Smith Column): Texas Farmers Union has voted unanimously to file an amicus brief supporting extension of the class to include all cattle producers from cattle feeders to cow/calf producers in the "Pickett versus I.B.P." - also known as Iowa Beef Processors.

Feb. 5 -- Determining your best business structure: "Wow!" was all Ted could say after discovering that he was required by law to hire an attorney to defend his new Subchapter S Corporation against an ex-employee's lawsuit.

Feb. 5 -- Book gets straight to the basics of organizing and operating: Entrepreneurship 101 is the best way to describe a recent book edited by two international experts in the field.

Feb. 5 -- Incentives suggested for boomers because they'll need to work more years to pay for retirement and health care benefits: Political leaders in the major Western industrial nations have suggested the baby boom generation think about extending its working years. They want boomers to continue working to help pay for the high costs of their government retirement and health care benefits. Demands by the baby boomers after the turn of the century are expected to eventually bankrupt Social Security and Medicare.

Feb. 5 -- Researchers achieve milestone in disk-drive data storage: SAN JOSE, Calif. - IBM Almaden researchers have figured out how to cram more than 11 billion bits of data into a single square inch of disk drive space, a feat that more than doubles the previous world record.

Feb. 5 -- SBA Internet site targets female business owners: Tucked inside the federal Small Business Administration is an office that focuses on female business owners. That office's Internet site is a fairly good resource for women with young or established businesses, or just hopes of starting one.

Feb. 5 -- Dollar takes on shine, gold loses its luster: If you had invested $1,000 in the stocks of the Dow Jones industrial average 10 years ago, you would now have $4,382. If you had put the same $1,000 in gold 10 years ago, it would now be worth $594.

Feb. 5 -- Plan now to reap tax relief: Looking for a way to help pay all those holiday bills? It's right there under your Christmas tree, in a neatly wrapped box marked "tax relief." You can't open it until the New Year. But when you do, you'll find a bunch of new federal and state tax breaks that, when taken together, could save you a lot of money.

Feb. 4 -- Protect yourself from online predators: The Internet can be a wonderful place, a forum where you can meet new friends from all around the world.

Feb. 4 -- When girls just wanna have fun on the computer: I made my 12-year-old daughter an offer I didn't think she could refuse: My aging Pentium 90 was soon to be replaced by a Pentium 300; would she like the 90?

Feb. 4 -- February is Black History Month: The World Wide Web is filled with interesting sites dealing with the history and culture of African Americans. Here are some of the best:

Feb. 4 -- Cotton acreage could drop by almost 2 million acres (J.T. Smith Column): The National Cotton Council has released its annual Planting Intentions Survey which shows a mighty big drop in U.S. cotton acreage is expected this spring.

Feb. 3 -- IBI net income jumps due to acquisition (Doug Williamson Column): Net income at Independent Bankshares Inc. soared by 48 percent in 1997, mostly because of the acquisition of a Lubbock bank holding company.

Feb. 3 -- Taking a cotton message to Congress: Monsanto Company will underwrite the cost of a Cotton Foundation special project aimed at giving national legislators a better understanding and appreciation for the U.S. cotton industry.

Feb. 3 -- TCA now managing TCI Cablevision of Abilene: TCA Cable TV Inc. officially takes over management of TCI Cablevision of Abilene today.

Feb. 1 -- New AOL software has hits and misses: America Online 4.0 has made its cyberdebut, sporting a host of new bells and whistles. The new software hits some high notes, but I came across a few clinkers too.

Feb. 1 -- Abilenians can brew their own suds: The Coors family and 1,000 Abilene area residents have something in common.

Feb. 1 -- Getting people to work together on the job: Q: I'd like to model and instill in my team members the concept of "interdependence" as described by Stephen Covey in "The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People" rather than the "I can do it by myself" mindset.

Feb. 1 -- CareerStop helps people find jobs: The skilled worker shortage in the Big Country is being addressed out of a building on Judge Ely Boulevard.

Feb. 1 -- Business Notebook: News and notes of interest to the local business community

Feb. 1 -- Lawmaker to speak on integrated marketing communications (Doug Williamson Column): Texas Sen. Florence Shapiro will speak on integrated marketing communications to the Abilene Ad Club Feb. 10.

Feb. 1 -- Cotton prices in need of great improvement (J. T. Smith Column): There's little doubt that some cotton acreage will be shifted to alternative crops this upcoming crop season if prices remain in the cellar.