The early 1990?s saw the import of a new breed of goat to the U.S.†The Boer (the Angus Cattle of the goat industry), has quickly grown to become a viable option for small farmers in Texas to diversify their operations and become more sustainable.† Unfortunately, due to the newness of the industry and few sources for research-based information on care and handling of the meat goat breed, many producers that have invested their time and money into starting operations that have been anything but sustainable.

Recognizing this lack of readily-available information applicable to farms in Ea

The NTCC Agriculture Department will host its monthly Farmer's Market on Friday, Oct. 4. The event is from 9 a.m. to sell out at the NTCC Ag Complex across 1735 from the main campus.

The Adult Education Department at Northeast Texas Community College is offering free General Education Development (GED) classes at the Naples Civic Center at 412 W.L. Doc Dodson Blvd (Hwy. 67 W). Students interested in attending classes must enroll in a 12-hour orientation.†The GED exam is changing in January 2014. At that time, all students seeking a GED will be required to complete the entire new test.

Northeast Texas Community College will host a job fair on Tuesday, September 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Union Building (SUB) on the main NTCC campus. The event is free to the public.†More than a dozen local and regional employers will be in attendance.

?We realize that the job market is†tough†right now. We are offering this fair as an opportunity for job seekers to get face time with area hiring managers,?

The Northeast Texas Community College Culinary Arts Program will host three special Buffet Nights on Thursdays this fall. These will be held †at the NTCC Culinary Institute ("Our Place") in historic downtown Pittsburg and are open to the public.

• Read more about Thursday buffets are back at Our Place

The Northeast Texas Community College Art Department held an artist reception featuring local artist Skinny Trammell on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The Lone Star resident's hand-crafted musical instruments were a featured exhibit in the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts foyer.†Skinny is 84 years old and fishes every day, makes musical instruments, and tells a few yarns now and then. The instruments on display at the Whatey include guitars, fiddles, ukuleles, and dobros.

The Northeast Police Academy at Northeast Texas Community College is offering an evening police academy beginning Monday, Oct. 14 at the main NTCC campus.†The academy runs through May 13. This program is specifically designed for working adults who are interested in pursuing a†career in law enforcement.

The academy will meet from 5-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and every first and third Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Read more about Northeast Texas poetry contest winners announced

Northeast Texas Community College celebrated the service of Jerry Massey, a long-time member of the NTCC board of Trustees, with a retirement reception on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Massey (left), of Pittsburg, recently retired from the board after 18 years of service. He and his wife, Susan, are retiring to the Houston area in order to be closer to family. Other members of the college board, faculty, staff, and community gathered in the Whatley Center foyer to honor Massey. Dr. Brad Johnson (right), NTCC President, and Mr. Bill Priefert, NTCC Board Member, †gave remarks.