January 2024

Rebecca Smith “Becky” passed away on January 20 at the age of 92, after a long illness. She was a registered nurse and a Captain in the Air Force, stationed at Loring Air Force Base, Strategic Air Command in Limestone, Maine. For the last 40 years, she ranched in Alpine. She is survived by a longtime friend and partner, Cathy Fortenberry, nephews Nathan Smith and Jeff Porter, first cousin Joy Robinson, numerous extended family, and a multitude of close friends. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Marie Smith, and Clarence Smith. Her three brothers and a sister, Tommy, Robert, Mickey, and Pat, close friend, and mentor Perry Cartwright. A private memorial will be held at a later date. She will be missed by all.

I’ve noticed Texas state flag posters displayed with “Proud Democrat” printed on them. I couldn’t help but wonder what made these Democrats so proud. Might it be an elimination of U.S. Energy Independence? What about the selling of U.S. Strategic Oil Supply to the CCP? Could it be the uninhibited printing of money that caused record inflation? I’ve searched elsewhere in case these harmful policies weren’t reasons for their “deadly sin of pride.” More than 1,000 babies are killed daily by the Democrat- ran Planned Parenthood while child castrations and mastectomies are performed under the pretense of “sex changes.” Joseph Mengele would have been proud. Democrat men pretend to be women while acting out in degrading female stereotypes as Democrats show them more respect than real women, and Democrat guys pretend to be gals in sports often defeating and sometimes injuring females. Are they proud of those actions? There’s Democrat “diversity, equity, and inclusion” that’s “divisive, exclusive, and inequitable,” and don’t forget the Democrat-created “Open U.S. Borders.” Are they proud of those harmful agendas? There’s plenty more but I’ve only so much space here. These posters displaying Democrats strike me as folks who would use the phrase “Proud as A Rooster,” not caring that roosters run their fathers off, have relations with their mothers and daughters, and scratch around in their own crap all day long. James R. Le Blanc Fort Davis

FIGHTIN’BUCK BASKETBALL Feb. 2 Alpine vs Kermit* JV 5 p.m.

Late last year, Sul Ross State University announced the creation of a new scholarship called the Presidential Plus Scholarship. This full-ride scholarship is aimed at area high school students from the high schools in the school districts of Alpine and the Big Bend and Permian Basin area.