January 2022

The Alpine Lady Bucks battled the Fort Davis Lady Indians on Jan. 4, and pulled out a 33-32 win on the Lady Indians’ home court.

The 78th Annual Big Bend Livestock Association Show starts tomorrow, and everyone is invited to come out to the ag barn on West Del Rio Street near Alpine Middle School to show support for these hard-working youngsters.

Boys Basketball Jan. 7 Fort Stockton @ Alpine Gold 4:30 p.m./Purple 6 p.m./ Varsity 8 p.m.

A recent Reddit thread discusses the lack of heroes in modern society, but the truth is we have plenty of heroes. It’s true that in the internet era, historic figures we once considered heroic are being reevaluated as their past misdeeds and personal peccadilloes are revealed.

In the blink of an eye, 2021 has zoomed by - and often on Zoom! Thankfully, Michael’s Mountain Ministry was able to once again bring the Live Nativity in person to all the wonderful people who made up our large audiences each of the three nights of performances. You all know by now that as the director of the Live Nativity, I depend solely on the hard work of numerous volunteers and generosity of many individuals and businesses to produce the Live Nativity. I apologize ahead of time if I have left anyone out, but I do want to thank the people who made the Live Nativity possible.

In the Dec. 23, 2021, edition of the Avalanche, you published a letter from a Fort Davis resident decrying our government’s “manipulative efforts” to “create and increase fear of COVID,” and who likened COVID’s lethality to that of the flu. More than 700,000 Americans would disagree if they could, but I’m weary of arguing with people who possess an alternative set of “facts.” I would instead like to put forth a compromise that I hope we can both agree on.

Terlingua CSD Superintendent Reagan Reed and the Board of Trustees will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new multi-purpose facility at Big Bend High School at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, and the public is invited

On Dec. 26 a panel of ancient petroglyphs in the Indian Head area of Big Bend National Park was irreparably damaged when vandals chose to boldly scratch their names and the date across the prehistoric art. Park managers have seen an increase in vandalism and graffiti in the area, and ask anyone with information about these incidents, or the persons involved, to contact the law enforcement staff at the park.

For Marfa ISD instructor Arturo Alferez, teaching kids not just the dance steps but also the history and culture that goes with the dance moves is what drives Marfa’s Ballet Folklorico Aztlán. This traditional dance group has brought a lively flair and entertained Big Bend crowds since its inception six years ago.

On Dec. 30, Brewster County Sheriff’s Office deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents disrupted a smuggling scheme involving three illegal aliens in a hotel room in Lajitas. The suspects were referred to Border Patrol agents for processing and deportation. The incident is still under investigation. Courtesy photo