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How to create a records retention schedule in a few(er) easier steps

Believe it or not, there are some pre made retention schedules that county officials in Texas can use in order to coply with records retention laws. No one has to start completely from scratch.

And if they want to come up with something completely their own, they can still do a hybrid.

Bracken Cave Bat Colony Yes, I know it's not Halloween yet.  We fly in

Yes, I know it's not Halloween yet. We fly in August.

Bats are big business in Texas And apparently you can buy some at a

And apparently you can buy some at a livestock auction. Just when I thought I'd seen it all.

What do County Commissioners do in Texas? Each county in Texas has four,

Each county in Texas has four, despite how many people they serve. Harris County, with about 5 million citizens has four. Loving County, with about 85 citizens has four. But what do County Commissioners actually do?

Texas Association of Counties (TAC) explains.

The closest I can get to a bat video from Texas Parks and Wildlife.  Y'all

Y'all are killing me, here! KILLING MEE!!! I was hoping to find several videos of bat colonies on the Texas Parks and Wildlife You Tube channel. Alas, there weren't as many as I'd hoped.


Still, I found a great video taken at the Houston Zoo. Houston never faiils to come in for me when it matters. Enjoy this look at a colony, and remember- you can see bats in the wild at the Waugh Avenue Bat Colony.

Thank you, Houston Zoo. Y'all rock!


What is the Texas State Library and Archives Commission Wondering what Tea

Wondering what Tea Slack is all about? One of the original state agencies in Texas covers public library services, records managment, archival services and services for the vision impaired.

That's a quick introduction to what TSLAC (or Tea Slack) does for the state of Texas. Let the staff tell you more. Get to know the resources and help available here:


Part II:


Reservations are recommended, but it's a great place to wander in and take a look.

Where to watch bats in Houston  Because not all bats want to live in

Because not all bats want to live in Central Texas. Some of them prefer the Gulf. And many bats love being in the center of the city. Take the Waugh Bridge bat colony for example. The bats live in the crevices of the bridge year round, and the best time to see them is in the Summer.

Given how temperate it is in Houston, you can really see them emerge year round, so don't feel bad if you're in town for an "off" season. In fact, while the colony on Waugh is the largest, there are smaller...

What do Texas Game Wardens Do? Mostly write tickets.I kid!  I kid! In

Mostly write tickets.I kid! I kid! In addition to doing their darndest to keep Texas' natural resources safe and flourishing, they also serve as peace officers within the state of Texas. Taking Flight takes a look at the wildlife protection and law enforcement aspects of a warden's job, but in reality, the game wardens fulfill several roles.

  • Education
  • Boating Safety
  • Water rescue
  • Hunter safety
  • Disaster response
  • State park maintenence
  • Public safety
  • Law enforcement

You can follow a real warden...

My county has two courthouses I'd love to say it's because we have so many

I'd love to say it's because we have so many people in Harris County, but the truth is we loved the older one so much that we decided to keep it. Even when we built a new one.

Every time I walk to the starting line at the Houston Marathon, the older courthouse comes into view. I wave and yell out "Hey, Girl!" to it. The other runners think I'm waving to a spectator, but that beauty is my home girl. She's historic and pretty.

And everybody says we just knock down old stuff in Houston...

Texas Historical Commission's resources for Hispanic heritage As Olivia

As Olivia works to celebrate the Mexican community in Verde County, the Texas Historical Commision (THC) has compiled a list of resources for exploring Hispanic heritage across Texas. The collection includes videos, an interactive map (for an unforgettable road trip) and lesson plans.

The details in the Verde County Courthouse may be fictional, but THC has a video on Hispanic architecture in Texas. Staying in the actual Hill Country, the agency's compiled a list of little known Hispanic sites...

Fisk University's Rosenwald collection is now available online  It's taken

It's taken longer than anyone had planned or hoped, but Fisk Univeristy's online collections of the Rosenwald Schools that spanned 15 southern states is now available to the public.


An interview with a preservation architect Andrew Kim may be a figment of

Andrew Kim may be a figment of my own imagination, but Preservation Architects do exist. Listen along as an architect describes his path towards a career in prserving and restoring the past.

Sometimes renovation means going foward, too.  Some counties in Texas use

Some counties in Texas use their renovations to help adjust with the times.

A conversation with a Texas County Commissioner Taken from the Texas

Taken from the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) podcast.

Getting preservation grants makes the news.  The Texas Historical

The Texas Historical Commission regularly hands out multiple grants, and when they do it makes news.

Who's survived the courthouse renovation process?  Most of the people

Most of the people involved are still living.


I think.....


Please don't sue me, THC!