By MITCH SNEED and DAVID GRANGER
Most people don’t need a meteorologist, an alert from the governor or the power company to tell them that it hasn’t rained much for months and most of our area is experiencing severe drought conditions.
kAmqFE E@ D66 E96 :>A24E :E :D 92G:?8 @? E96 2C62[ E2=< E@ 72C>6CD =:<6 }6H $:E6’D %@3J w2?D@? @C =:DE6? E@ E96 2=6CED 36:?8 :DDF65 3J p=232>2 !@H6C 23@FE H92E :E :D 5@:?8 E@ 2C62 =2<6D =:<6 {2<6 |2CE:?]k^Am
kAm“p== H6 2C6 5@:?8 C:89E ?@H :D 62E:?8 5FDE[” w2?D@? D2:5 uC:52J 27E6C 2 =@?8 52J :? E96 7:6=5D] “%9:D 5CJ H62E96C 92D 9:E FD 92C5] (:E9 4@C? H6 925 D@>6 E92E 5:5 AC6EEJ H6==[ 3FE H6 925 A=246D H96C6 H6 925 DE2=<D 2?5 ?@ 4@C? 2E 2==]k^Am
kAm“#:89E ?@H H6 2C6 92CG6DE:?8 D@J362?D 2?5 H6 925 2 8@@5 DE2?5[ 3FE E96 362?D 2C6 E:?J 3642FD6 H6 5:5?’E 86E E92E =2E6 C2:?]”k^Am
kAmw2?D@? D2:5 3642FD6 @7 E96 5CJ 4@?5:E:@?D 96 92D 2=C625J DE2CE65 7665:?8 42EE=6 92J 2?5 92D 366? D:?46 62C=J E9:D >@?E9]k^Am
kAm“(6 DE2CE65 7665:?8 E96> E96 7:CDE @7 E96 >@?E9[” w2?D@? D2:5] “(6’G6 ?6G6C 925 E@ 5@ E92E] %JA:42==J :E’D E96 7:CDE @7 s646>36C 367@C6 H6 DE2CE DFAA=6>6?E:?8 8C2DD H:E9 92J]”k^Am
kAmp=232>2 !@H6C :DDF65 2 {2<6 {6G6= p=6CE uC:52J[ 42FE:@?:?8 C6D:56?ED E92E =2<6 =6G6=D >2J 72== 36=@H H:?E6C A@@= =6G6=D :7 D:8?:7:42?E C2:? 5@6D?’E 4@>6 D@@?]k^Am
kAm%96 5C@F89E 27764E:?8 2== @7 p=232>2 4@?E:?F6D E@ C65F46 7=@HD :? C:G6CD 2?5 DEC62>D E92E 7665 p=232>2 !@H6C’D =2<6D :?4=F5:?8 {2<6 |2CE:?] %96 4@?5:E:@?D 92G6 C6DF=E65 :? =6G6=D 2E p=232>2 !@H6C C6D6CG@:CD 72==:?8 36=@H EJA:42= 6=6G2E:@?D 7@C E9:D E:>6 @7 J62C]k^Am
kAmp=232>2 !@H6C 92D 7FCE96C C65F465 H2E6C C6=62D6D 7C@> :ED 9J5C@6=64EC:4 52>D[ 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 :ED 7656C2= =:46?D6D] %96 4@>A2?J 2=D@ 92D DFDA6?565 2== C64C62E:@?2= C6=62D6D 7C@> y@C52? s2> @? E96 r@@D2 #:G6C] %96 4@>A2?J :D H@C<:?8 H:E9 8@G6C?>6?E 286?4:6D[ >F?:4:A2=:E:6D[ 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 8C@FAD E@ 4@>>F?:42E6 23@FE E96 @?8@:?8 677@CED E@ 4@?D6CG6 H2E6C]k^Am
kAmy2D@? w@=>6D[ 2 >6E6@C@=@8:DE H:E9 E96 }2E:@?2= (62E96C $6CG:46’D q:C>:?892> @77:46[ D2:5 E96 2G6C286 J62C\E@\52E6 C2:?72== 7@C |@?E8@>6CJ WE96 ?62C6DE }($ DE2E:@?X 2D @7 (65?6D52J :D cb]` :?496D] %9FD 72C E9:D J62C E96 2C62 92D 925 bd]c :?496D @7 >62DFC23=6 C2:?[ 96 D2:5 – 2 567:4:E @7 f]f :?496D]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] sC@F89E |@?:E@C[ FA52E65 %9FCD52J >@C?:?8 3J E96 }2E:@?2= sC@F89E |:E:82E:@? r6?E6C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2[ >@DE @7 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ :D :? D6G6C6 5C@F89E[ H:E9 E96 ?@CE9H6DE6C? >@DE A2CE @7 E96 4@F?EJ :? 2? 6IEC6>6 5C@F89E]k^Am
kAmw2?D@? D2:5 :7 D@>6 C2:? 5@6D?’E 4@>6[ A=2?E:?8 H:?E6C CJ6 7@C 42EE=6 2?5 H:?E6C H962E H@F=5 36 2 H2DE6 @7 E:>6]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 2=C625J C62==J 36:?8 56=2J65 @C 92>A6C65 :? 2?J A=2?E:?8 H:?E6C\D66565 4C@AD[” w2?D@? D2:5] “x 92G6 >J D665 @C56C @? 9@=5 F?E:= H6 D66 :7 H6 86E D@>6 C2:?] #:89E ?@H :7 x A=2?E65 :E @C CJ6[ x H:== 36 A=2?E:?8 :E :? E96 5FDE 2?5 7665:?8 E96 3:C5D] $@ H6 H:== H2:E 2?5 D66 367@C6 5@:?8 E92E]”k^Am
kAmqFE E96C6 :D 4@?46C? 23@FE H92E[ :? E96 H2J @7 C2:?72==[ E96 7FEFC6 H:== 3C:?8] p44@C5:?8 E@ w@=>6D[ E96 @FE=@@< 7@C 2?J D:8?:7:42?E 2>@F?E @7 C2:? :D?’E 8@@5 :? E96 7@C6D6623=6 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 :D 2 5:DEFC32?46 E92E =@@<D E@ 36 4@>:?8 E9C@F89 2C@F?5 W}@G6>36CX E96 dE9 @C eE9[ 3FE E96D6 92G6 ;FDE 366? 4=:AA:?8 @FC 2C62 2?5 DE2J:?8 ?@CE9 @7 FD[ D@ E96 @FE=@@< C62==J :D?’E 8@@5 E96?[” w@=>6D D2:5] “(:E9 E96 D@:=D 2?5 E96 G686E2E:@? 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 6=D6 2D 5CJ 2D E96 4@?5:E:@?D 2C6[ H6 C62==J 2C6?’E :? 2 8@@5 D:EF2E:@? E@ 56G6=@A 4=@F5D :? E96 2C62] (6’G6 925 DEC@?8 9:89 AC6DDFC6 :? E96 s66A $@FE9 D:?46 |2J[ >@DE=J @G6C %6I2D[ 2?5 H6’G6 C62==J 8@EE6? DEF4< :? 2 7665324< 4J4=6]”k^Am
kAm(92E’D >@C6[ w@=>6D D2:5[ 2 {2 }:?2 :D 6IA64E65 E@ 56G6=@A 5FC:?8 E96 H:?E6C >@?E9D[ H9:49 ?@C>2==J >62?D 2 5C:6C\E92?\?@C>2= H:?E6C]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 @7 E96 6IE6?565 5CJ A6C:@5[ @? ~4E] `a[ v@G] #@36CE q6?E=6J :DDF65 2 ?@\3FC? @C56C 7@C ce 4@F?E:6D :? p=232>2[ :?4=F5:?8 %2==2A@@D2 2?5 t=>@C6] ~E96C 4@F?E:6D :?4=F565 :? E96 @C56C 2C6 pFE2F82[ q:33[ q=@F?E[ r2=9@F?[ r92>36CD[ r96C@<66[ r9:=E@?[ r=2J[ r=63FC?6[ r@=36CE[ r@@D2[ rF==>2?[ s2==2D[ s6z2=3[ tE@H29[ u2J6EE6[ uC2?<=:?[ vC66?6[ w2=6[ y24<D@?[ y6776CD@?[ {2>2C[ {2F56C52=6[ {2HC6?46[ {66[ {:>6DE@?6[ {@H?56D[ |24@?[ |25:D@?[ |2C:@?[ |2CD92==[ |@?E8@>6CJ[ |@C82?[ !6CCJ[ !:4<6?D[ #2?5@=A9[ #FDD6==[ $96=3J[ $E] r=2:C[ $F>E6C[ %2==25682[ %FD42=@@D2[ (2=<6C[ 2?5 (:?DE@?]k^Am
kAm%96 p=6I2?56C r:EJ u:C6 s6A2CE>6?E 282:? H2C?65 C6D:56?ED 23@FE E96 @FE5@@C 3FC? 32? 2?5 D2:5 E96J 2C6 24EF2==J 5C:G:?8 2C@F?5 E96 4:EJ[ =@@<:?8 7@C A@E6?E:2= G:@=2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm“(6’G6 925 D6G6C2= 42==D 23@FE A6@A=6 3FC?:?8[” D2:5 prus r2AE] #66D6 |4p=:DE6C] “(6 H2?E E@ =6E E96> <?@H E92E G:CEF2==J 6G6CJE9:?8 :D 32??65]”k^Am
kAm&?56C $64E:@? h\`b\`ca[ r@56 @7 p=232>2[ 2?J@?6 7@F?5 8F:=EJ @7 G:@=2E:?8 E96D6 C68F=2E:@?D 2?5 :>AC@A6C=J 4@?5F4E:?8 @A6? 3FC?:?8 :? 2 sC@F89E t>6C86?4J\564=2C65 2C62 D92== 36 8F:=EJ @7 2 >:D56>62?@C 2?5 D92== 36 7:?65 ?@E =6DD E92? Sad_[ ?@C >@C6 E92? Sd__[ 2?5 2E E96 5:D4C6E:@? @7 E96 4@FCE[ E92E A6CD@? >2J 2=D@ 36 D6?E6?465 E@ E96 4@F?EJ ;2:= 7@C FA E@ D:I >@?E9D]k^Am
kAmp55:E:@?2==J[ 2?J A6CD@? 3FC?:?8 :? G:@=2E:@? @7 E96 sC@F89E t>6C86?4J s64=2C2E:@? H:== 36 =:23=6 7@C 52>286D E@ E96 AC@A6CEJ @7 2?@E96C 2?5 2?J 4@DED 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96 DFAAC6DD:@? @7 D2:5 7:C6] $FAAC6DD:@? 4@DED H@F=5 :?4=F56 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 A6CD@??6= 4@DED C6=2E65 E@ 4@?EC@= @C 6IE:?8F:D9 E96 H:=57:C6]k^Am
kAmx}u~ q~)k^Am
kAm(wp% x$ p s#~&vw%kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?m t|t#vt}r* str{p#p%x~}nk^Am
kAm$64E:@? h\`b\`c` @7 E96 r@56 @7 p=232>2 DE2E6Di “2E DF49 E:>6 2D E96 DE2E6 7@C6DECJ 4@>>:DD:@? 92D 564=2C65 3J C68F=2E:@? 2 5C@F89E 6>6C86?4J :? 2?J 4@F?EJ @C 4@F?E:6D[ :E D92== 36 F?=2H7F= :? DF49 4@F?EJ @C 4@F?E:6D 7@C 2?J A6CD@? E@ D6E 7:C6 E@ 2?J 7@C6DE[ 8C2DD[ H@@5D @C >2CD96D @C E@ 3F:=5 2 42>A7:C6 @C 3@?7:C6 @C E@ 3FC? EC2D9 @C @E96C >2E6C:2= E92E >2J 42FD6 2 7@C6DE[ 8C2DD @C H@@5D 7:C6]”k^Am
kAm$A64:7:42==J[ E96 C68F=2E:@? AC@9:3:ED 2?J AC6D4C:365 3FC?D[ 2?J 42>A7:C6 @C 3@?7:C6[ 2?J EC2D9 @C 563C:D 7:C6D[ @C 2?J @E96C @A6? 3FC?:?8]k^Am
kAms~ %wt #tv&{p%x~}$kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?m r~'t# qp#qt"&t$nk^Am
kAm%96 C68F=2E:@?D 2==@H 32C36BF6 7:C6D 7@C 4@@<:?8 xu E96 7:C6 :D :? 2 8C:== @C >2D@?CJ 32C36BF6 A:E[ :?4=F5:?8 =2C86 32C36BF6 A:ED FD65 3J 4:G:4 @C82?:K2E:@?D E@ AC6A2C6 7@@5] p?J@?6 8C:==:?8 @C 32C36BF:?8 5FC:?8 E96 sC@F89E t>6C86?4J D9@F=5 92G6 H2E6C 9@D6D @? D:E6 E@ AC6G6?E 2?J =@@D6 DA2C<D 7C@> D6EE:?8 2 H:=57:C6[ 2?5 2 4:C4=6 2E =62DE `_ 766E H:56 2C@F?5 E96 8C:== D9@F=5 36 4=62C65 @7 2?J 3FC?23=6 >2E6C:2=] $:56 7:C6D E@ 86?6C2E6 4@2=D 7@C 2 32C36BF6 >FDE 2=D@ 36 H:E9:? 2 8C:== @C >2D@?CJ A:E] v2D 8C:==D 2C6 2==@H65]k^Am
kAm(wp% x$ x}r{&sts x} %wt “rp|!ux#t ~# q~}ux#t” !#~wxqx%x~}nk^Am
kAmr2>A7:C6D @C 3@?7:C6D :?4=F56 2?J 7:C6 E92E :D 3FC?65 @? 32C6 8C@F?5[ 6G6? :7 DFCC@F?565 3J DE@?6D @C 2 >6E2= 7:C6 C:?8] %9:D 567:?:E:@? :?4=F56D 42>A7:C6D[ 46C6>@?:2= 7:C6D[ ‘4@F?4:=’ 7:C6D[ 3@?7:C6D[ ‘H2C>:?8’ 7:C6D[ 2?5 4@@<:?8 7:C6D E92E 2C6 @? 32C6 8C@F?5 2?5 ?@E :? 2 >2D@?CJ =:?65 ‘A:E]’k^Am
kAm(wp% x$ x}r{&sts x} %wt “%#p$w ~# stq#x$ ux#t” !#~wxqx%x~}nk^Am
kAm%C2D9 2?5 563C:D 7:C6D :?4=F56 3FC?:?8 @7 H@@5J 563C:D[ J2C5 H2DE6[ 82C3286[ 4@?DECF4E:@? 563C:D @C 2?J @E96C >2E6C:2=[ :? 6:E96C 2? @A6? A:E @C :? 2 32CC6=] pE E9:D E:>6[ A6@A=6 D9@F=5 ?@E 3FC? 2 563C:D A:=6 F?E:= E96 sC@F89E t>6C86?4J :D =:7E65]k^Am