Gilmer Memorial Library

08/31/2026

08/31/2026

With a prompt from our Mid-Border Community Council Coordinator (thanks, Alex), we were personally invited to bring a group of ladies from our community to Junction for a free BEXA breast health scan. Not only was the scan followed by an ultrasound of specific areas of concern, but the information gained about self-checks and specific understanding of YOUR breast tissue (areas to watch, density of tissue, etc.) were above and beyond any normal exam setting. The ladies truly loved the gift of knowledge and prevention they are bringing to women through this initiative. Thank you, Bexa, Concho Valley Rural Health, Texas Tech Rural Health, and the Laura Bush Foundation! This was such a blessing to my community, well worth the 43 mile winding drive to Junction, Texas on a Monday morning!

A few from our community also went the next day, and some are going to do the scan in September in Sonora. We are so grateful for those offering opportunities to access healthcare to our rural, remote residents. And, we are so grateful to Rocksprings Independent School District for believing in the impact community service makes in the health gap for our families.

We had the opportunity to treat these ladies like the queens they are. After the breast health screening, we enjoyed a lunch and fellowship together at Junction Burger and Starbucks for the trip home.

Transportation provided by yours truly in a Rocksprings ISD van. Thanks, RISD! Money for meal from MHM flex funding (thanks, Stephanie)!

08/30/2026

Mohair History is always a good read!

For most of the twentieth century, the majority of the mohair produced in the United States came off goats raised in one stretch of Texas hill country. 🐐

The Edwards Plateau — Rocksprings, Sonora, Junction, Menard, Ozona — turned out to be almost perfect Angora goat country: rocky, cedar-covered, too thin for row crops, but full of browse. Ranchers ran sheep and goats where cattle could not make a living, and by mid-century Texas dominated American wool and mohair production so completely that the world price was set by what came out of these counties. Rocksprings billed itself as the Angora Goat Capital of the World and meant it.

The work was done by traveling shearing crews, many of them Mexican American families who moved ranch to ranch through the season and could clip a goat clean in a couple of minutes without nicking it. A good shearer was courted the way a good pitcher is courted.

Federal wool and mohair incentives ended in the 1990s, and cheap imports, predator losses, and labor shortages did the rest. The pens are still standing on a lot of those ranches, mostly empty now.

08/30/2026

Don’t mind the mess in the adult section of the library, we are still in transition to creating space for all age groups. We welcomed Mrs. Jones’s high school students and walked them through the changes happening now and continuing later in the school year.

One special group took their last first library visit of the school year picture ever. We are here to help and support in any and every way. Make the most of this year, 2027 Seniors!

08/30/2026

This is the reason GILMER GOES GOLD this month!

08/28/2026

Weeding in Texana- Long Overdue

Come by and take it. It’s free to you!

08/28/2026

Small choices make a big difference!

💜 Making heart-healthy choices does not require changing everything at once. It begins with small, consistent steps your entire family can take together.

Know your blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, and cholesterol. Drink more water, reduce sodium, prepare balanced meals, stay active, attend regular checkups, and talk openly about your family’s health history.

These choices matter because conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity can develop quietly and increase the risk of heart disease and heart failure. Knowing your numbers and recognizing potential risks early can help you make informed decisions before a health concern becomes an emergency.

HMHFF is supporting this mission by bringing heart-health education, cardiovascular screenings, one-on-one coaching, referrals, and trusted local resources directly into our communities, including rural and underserved areas where access to care may be limited.

Together, we can turn everyday choices into healthier hearts, stronger families, and better futures.

Learn more at hmhff.org.

💜 Making It Happen…One Heart, One Community At A Time. 💛

08/27/2026

Here’s the CHDI post to collect survey responses!

If you haven’t yet completed it to identify community needs and priorities, please take a few moments to do it now. Be thorough and know that you can choose more than one priority for our community. If you see a gap in health access, share it in the survey!

📣 We Want to Hear From You!

We are still collecting responses for our 2026 Community Needs Assessment, and we’d love to hear from you!

Your feedback gives us a better understanding of the health needs and priorities in our community and helps guide the programs and services we provide.

📝 Take a few minutes to complete our survey:
https://docs.google.com/.../1uwFYYkBRwoARvdP0.../viewform

📢 Please share this survey with your family, friends, and neighbors. The more voices we hear, the better we can understand and serve our community.

Thank you for helping us build a healthier community together! 💚

08/26/2026

—Community Needs Assessment—

Please take the time to communicate the needs of our community! AND, SHARE so that others have the opportunity to provide feedback.

The more information you provide, the more our needs are known by organizations shaping plans our area. Please note that you can mark more than one item as a priority need in our area.

Link:
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fprotect.checkpoint.com%2fv2%2fr01%2f___https%3a%2f%2fdocs.google.com%2fforms%2fd%2f1uwFYYkBRwoARvdP0hxvgPiHDRdqkm3C4xGISBpisXqo%2fviewform%3fedit_requested%3dtrue%2523responses___.YzJ1OmNoZGkyOmM6bzpkY2U3YmZiOGJiNDkwMWFkNDdhYmYwYjdjZmYwZmY3Mjo3OjE0MTA6N2UxOGU4OTRkZDNmYjY2ODFlNzc1MjBiZjkwY2E5MmFmMDM0M2I2MDRlZmJiYjM1OWEyYTE0MTg3NTU3OGZiNjpoOkY6Rg&c=E,1,To6g5YEOEXHDqAARNeqIhYBs37xRzE4eZHwtXlNk1_tF2BeWYkOycknjEX73WPkae6QNMUPgolW5c9GmDBzpEpQvT4uOjVbUDKvgLg58TDNggiGsrtwmGuY7_W3S&typo=1

Please SHARE!