MEN INDICTED IN ANTIQUITIES HEIST

U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton announced Tuesday that a federal grand jury in Pecos, Texas, returned a three count indictment against Kirby Loren Amlee, 35, of Robbins, North Carolina, formerly of Terlingua, and Joey Kenneth Priddy, 45, of Carthage, North Carolina, for violations of stealing United States property, transporting ammunition by prohibited persons, and transportation of stolen goods.

The indictment stems from a rash of burglaries from the Fort Davis Historical Site, Fort Davis, Texas, and the Hallie Stillwell Museum and the Lajitas International Airport, in south Brewster County, Texas, from April 11-17, 2006.

The burglaries began on the early morning of April 11, at the Stillwell Museum in which a .38 caliber revolver with holster, a 1895 Winchester 30.06 rifle, a double barrel shotgun, two bandoliers, a box of .38 caliber ammunition, numerous Indian arrowheads, a knife with bone handle in a sheath, one tomahawk; a small wooden butter mold and money from the donation box were stolen.

The next burglary occurred during the early morning hours of April 12, at the Fort Davis Historical Site Museum. Entry into the museum was made by the smashing of the transom over the back door of the museum. Several glass displays were also broken into and a Thurber and Allen bar hammer percussion pistol, a Colt Model 1849 Revolver, a Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver, a Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver, a Colt Model 1873 SAA Revolver, a Colt SAA, a U.S. Model 1842 Percussion Pistol, a Bowie Knife, and cash from a donation box were stolen.

The last burglary occurred on the early morning hours of April 17, at the Lajitas International Airport in which a 42 inch Gateway plasma television, two boxes of medals; a "Mexican Border Service" banner; a gray and black bag; several shirts with the "Lajitas Resort" emblem; and a quantity of Tylenol and No-Doze medication was stolen.

The investigation was spearheaded by Special Agents of the National Park Service from El Paso, Texas, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, and Denver, Colorado, with assistance of personnel at the Fort Davis National Historical Site and Big Bend National Park. The investigation was coordinated with the cooperation and assistance of the Brewster County Sheriff's Office and Jeff Davis County Sheriff's Office, the Moore County Sheriff's Office in Carthage, North Carolina, the Patrick County Sheriff's Office in Stuart, Virginia, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Presidio, Texas.

The double barrel shotgun and the two bandoliers were recovered on June 7, in Lajitas, Texas by the Brewster County Sheriff and a Special Agent of the National Park Service. The remaining property, except the money, was retrieved on June 6, in Robbins, North Carolina. The weapons stolen from the Fort Davis National Historical Site are being maintained at the Springfield Armory, Massachusetts, for restoration and will be returned to the Fort Davis Museum shortly.

Each count of the indictment carries with it a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, three years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. A warrant for arrest of Amlee has been issued. Priddy is currently detained at the Patrick County Jail, in Stuart, Virginia, on unrelated charges. A writ will be issued to bring Priddy to the Pecos Federal Courthouse, Pecos, Texas, to face the charges. Coordination has been made with the 83rd Judicial District Attorney, Frank Brown, to prosecute all cases federally. It is anticipated that the defendants will be arraigned on June 27, 2006 with a tentative trial date of August 21, 2006. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James J. Miller, Jr. of Alpine.

WILD WEST RETURNS IN "ANNIE GET YOUR GUN" AT THEATRE OF THE BIG BEND

Buffalo Bill's Wild West will come a-hoopin’ and a-hollerin’ into Sul Ross State University's rodeo arena on Friday, June 30, the opening night of the 41st season of Theatre of the Big Bend.

MEN INDICTED IN ANTIQUITIES HEIST

U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton announced Tuesday that a federal grand jury in Pecos, Texas, returned a three count indictment against Kirby Loren Amlee, 35, of Robbins, North Carolina, formerly of Terlingua, and Joey Kenneth Priddy, 45, of Carthage, North Carolina, for violations of stealing United States property, transporting ammunition by prohibited persons, and transportation of stolen goods.

City councils looks at street improvements

The Alpine city council started the process of either closing or restricting the use of two city streets during Tuesday night's regular meeting.

School Board approves budget, donates land

The Alpine Independent School District adopted a new 8.5 million dollar budget, which will start on July 1. 4.6 million dollars of the budget will come from state funds and 3.9 million dollars will come from local revenue streams.