December 2022

Recently the City of Alpine and City Attorney Rod Ponton issued a press release in regard to the conflict concerning the replat application and proposed use of property, located at 1911 North State Highway 118. Earlier this summer, Horse Apple 118, LLC, who was the listed property owner of the location at the time, requested from the City of Alpine the annexation of their property as commercial. This request was submitted for the appropriate designation in order to construct a commercial building and hold operations as such. The City of Alpine in June and July granted the request under the Government Code Chapter 43, Sub Chapter C-3, and proceeded with the required service agreement with Horse Apple 118, LLC. An annexation ordinance was drafted, and all required notices of the proposed annexation as a commercial property were posted. This included holding a public hearing and publishing the notice in the newspaper and on the city website.

The Big Bend livestock show is held in Alpine every year in the month of January. It is a big production and a big responsibility, and there is no way it could be successful without the many volunteers that make it happen. “I would imagine there are at least 100 to 150 folks that volunteer their time, to set everything up from start to finish for our livestock show,” stated Doug Fox, with the Alpine FFA. “Preparation for our show is an ongoing, year-long process and we couldn’t do what we do for these kids without the help of all our volunteers, including Calan Ahrens and Stephen Wood, who make sure that people are served the best concession food in West Texas,” added Fox.

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This past year has seen drought conditions affect wildlife, and deer are one of many that have suffered because of it. The earlier months of 2022 saw little to no precipitation and high winds. The month of June saw some precipitation, but this miniscule amount was overshadowed by hot days. It wasn’t until August of this year that the tri-county area saw any significant precipitation to combat some of the drought conditions that affected the area deer population.

In last week’s play, the Lady Bucks took on the Lady Mustangs from Ft. Hancock on their home court, while the JV Lady Bucks battled the Lady Vaqueros from Sierra Blanca.

Alpine High School boys’ basketball coach Aaron Hardwick is impressed with his team’s resiliency. The Bucks’ 3-2 record heading into Tuesday’s game at 4A Midland Greenwood with a an 11-2 record is a bit deceiving, with their losses coming to strong 4A’s Andrews who’s 5-5 and San Elizario who’s 8-2. And take away a disastrous first quarter at San Elizario on Friday night and the Bucks win. Alpine was down 19-6 after the first quarter.

Thank You Thank you to the Alpine Avalanche and all who joined us on Saturday, Dec. 3, for Historic Alpine’s Second Annual Christmas Stroll, down East Sul Ross Avenue.

It’s common knowledge that City of Alpine has problems reading water meters and with the subsequent and often inaccurate bills. I reference your article, City discusses water billing issues, Alpine Avalanche, Nov. 17 this year. My complaint about the water portion of the monthly utility bill is not uncommon. The estimated amount used is many times the actual monthly usage. Last billing period I was billed 9,000 gallons, but used, according to daily meter readings, 1,200 gallons. The Oct. billing was similarly wrong.

“The problem with omens is that they never come with an illustrated pamphlet explaining what they mean.” — Dean Koontz, American author of suspense thrillers Could it have been an omen? I’m thinking maybe more of a sign. That one 9/16-inch box end wrench, my favorite, was nowhere to be found when I needed it Thanksgiving weekend.

A service to celebrate the life of Kathleen Ryan Kolas, 73, of Terlingua is pending for a later date in the Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, where she will be placed with her husband. She died on Friday, Nov. 25, in Lubbock.