October 2023

“If you think you’ve seen it all, Stick around.” — Song lyrics by Jason Mraz, American singer-songwriter, and guitarist. This is not a sports column.

Almost 100 Texas schools have filed a lawsuit against Education Commissioner Mike Morath and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) over changes to the state’s accountability system. Why? Because they contend, TEA is intentionally lowering A-F performance ratings for school districts using unlawful, retroactive tactics.

Edward “Eddie” Lawrence Baker, 64, of Alpine, passed away October 1, in Odessa. The family held a private service in his honor.

Jose Jonell Rodriguez, at the of age 71 passed away peacefully on Saturday September 30, at 12:35 a.m. Jonell was born to Ismael & Feliciana Rodriguez on February 3, 1952, in Fort Davis.

A proclamation was made by City of Alpine Mayor Catherine Eaves at the October 3 city council meeting, proclaiming that the week of October 1-7 be National Public Natural Gas Appreciation week in Alpine. On hand for the proclamation were employees of the Alpine gas department.

The Alpine High School Fightin’ Buck Band would like to extend an invitation to the Alpine community, family, friends, and students to join them at Buck Stadium on Friday, October 13 for their 2023 UIL performance. This year’s show is entitled “Time After Time” and this will be the band’s final performance of their show before heading to the UIL Region marching contest on Saturday in Odessa.

The Sul Ross Theatre Program will present “Oleanna” in the Studio Theatre beginning Friday, October 13. This play by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet premiered on Broadway in 1992 and starred William H. Macy and Rebecca Pidgeon.

The Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend Inc., located in Alpine, is one of two shelters in Texas to receive a grant by the Mary Kay Ash Foundation. This grant, in the amount of $20,000, will go towards helping the center fund facility upgrades, operating costs, legal aid, counseling, and other similar and relevant resources that help to ensure that women and children are supported as they journey towards a life free of abuse.

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There are two solar eclipses coming up over Texas skies in the next six months, the first in less than a week. The “ring of fire” solar eclipse arrives on October 14 when a halo of light will be visible around the moon but should be viewed through solar eclipse glasses.