January 2022

JANUARY 28 Travel Talk, 7 p.m. at Alpine Public Library, 805 W.

How do you prepare for a winter storm? Bob Steele, Alpine: Canned food with a can opener. A lot of people have canned foods but they don’t bother to get a mechanical can opener because they have an electrical can opener in the kitchen.

Brewster County Commissioners Court held its regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 25, and a lengthy discussion regarding EMS services drove the agenda.

The wide-open spaces of West Texas lured a record 581,000 recreational visits to remote Big Bend in 2021. These numbers reflect a 25% increase since 2019, the last year the park was completely open, and a 49% increase since 2016. Once relatively unknown, the Big Bend area continues to see a significant increase in visitation, and the CO- VID-19 pandemic has resulted in even more visitors seeking out the qualities of this special place.

Alpine High School senior Shaun Foster was recently named to the Padilla Poll Second Team All State Defensive Team. Courtesy phot.

On Jan. 10, Alpine Animal Services donated oxygen masks for small animals and pets on behalf of Invisible Fence. During the course of fires, animals can succumb to smoke inhalation. These masks will allow firefighters to more effectively help resuscitate as well as provide recovery for affected animals. Courtesy

Alpine resident Damion Benavente, 30, on Jan. 24 was sentenced to life in prison for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor.

On Jan. 20 San Vicente ISD held its regular school board meeting. Board members Toni Sammons, Suzette Mendoza, and Beth Ivans were thanked by the students and staff for their dedication to the district.

Since the Biden administration hasn’t indicated that it will shift its Southwest border policy, the U.S. can expect the surge of illegal crossers to continue throughout 2022.

What do the cities of New York, N.Y., Wyoming, Minn., Mobile, Ala., and Alpine, Texas have in common? Any guesses anyone? They all suffer from the same problems with their municipal wastewater systems created by unauthorized materials being flushed down toilets.