May 2023

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For its spring community grant cycle, the Permian Basin Area Foundation awarded a total of $1.8 million in grants to nonprofits serving West Texans. Local nonprofits receiving portions of the $1.8 million were the Big Bend Conservancy, the Big Bend Conservation Alliance, the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute, Frontier CASA, Marathon Primary Care Services, Inc.

Alpine City Attorney Rod Ponton was honored on the floor of the Texas Senate on May 22 with a special resolution. This senate resolution SR 626 was co-sponsored by Texas senators Roland Gutierrez and Cesar Blanco. The resolution commemorated Pontons’ distinguished 41-year legal career devoted to the needs of Far West Texas. “I am honored by the resolution, and will continue to advocate for the needs of Far West Texas,” noted Ponton.

Internationally renowned pastel artist, Nancy Lilly, was in Alpine recently teaching her method of painting on a textured panel to a group of artists from around Texas. The threeday workshop, sponsored by the Big Bend Arts Council, covered preparing and applying grounds, composition, color, and the application of a non-toxic fixative to achieve texture and freshness in a painting.

FIDDLER’S GREEN Holidays can sometimes be confusing. I was always clear about Veterans Day in November.

Roy Thomas McBride passed away on Tuesday, May 24, on a ranch near Alpine. He was almost 87 years old and resided in Alpine most of his life. He was an international wildlife biologist, entrepreneur, inventor, manufacturer, and rancher. He married Jere Jean Johnson of San Antonio in 1957, and they are both survived by three children (Rocky, Randy, Rowdy), his daughter-inlaws Monica and Mistie, five grandchildren (Cougar, Caleb, Micah, Ryelan, and Mayson), along with great-grandchildren Stryker and Lynx.

The City of Alpine celebrated National Public Service Appreciation Week in May. It’s a great time to thank and acknowledge the nearly 90 men and women who work hard every day to make Alpine a great place to live.

“Opportunity knocking usually sounds like hard work, so most people don’t answer the door.” – I heard it from friend and mentor Jim Chionsini as one of his “Old Italian Sayings.” He likely borrowed it, but he was, among other things, a master at repackaging good advice. An imaginary light from above formed a halo around the camera in the display case.

O6 ALPINE COWBOYS BASEBALL June 1 @ Roswell Invaders, 7 p.m. June 2 @ Roswell Invaders, 7 p.m.

In the simplest of terms: 2023 is a pivotal year for the Alpine Cowboys. The last two seasons have concluded with first round playoff exits featuring the opposing team celebrating on the Kokernot Field pitcher’s mound. The Cowboys, on the hunt for their first Pecos League championship since 2019, enter the 2023 campaign with something to prove.