November 2023

A benefit concert will be held on Monday, December 1 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Granada Theatre for Alberto Calderon who suffered major injuries due to a vehicle accident. Proceeds from the concert will go towards medical expenses and recovery. Bands performing include The Swifts at 6 p.m., Damian Luna at 7 p.m., 7 Year Drought at 8:30, Smoke Show at 9 p.m., and DJ Funk Boi will close out the evening beginning at 10:30 p.m. There will be a $10 cover charge at the door and for those unable to attend they may donate via Venmo-@Alberto-Calderon-34 or CashApp$ominusprime87. A QR code is also available on flyers for donations via GoFundMe.

Winners for the 2023 Shooting Alpine photo contest were announced last week. This 13th annual photo contest received a total of 344 photographic entries by 120 photographers.

From my days of working at Fort Davis when I was in college, I have been curious about the army chaplains who served the soldiers of the four African American regiments, the Buffalo Soldiers. As one of those topics I thought about but never pursued, it came to the fore when I started having weekly coffee with Ken Hurst, retired Lieutenant-Colonel and Chaplain of the Second Infantry Division. I am only sorry for the fact that Ken is no longer with us and available to critique my work. It turns out that religion in the Regular Army of the 19th Century was never a priority and was usually secondary to other policies and issues. To the young men who served in the ranks, religion was often of little concern. Private Eddie Matthews, a devout Protestant, wrote, “A Christian in the Regular Army, accepting a few chaplains, and they are even doubtful, would be as great a curiosity as one of Barnum’s Cannibals.” The chaplains, few as existed in the army, were universally known as “Holy Joes.”

On November 17, a great heart came to rest. Jim Bones was born on November 1, 1943, in Monroe, Louisiana, to Nellie Kathryn and James Clinton Bones. Jim was a nationally recognized landscape photographer. He found solace and inspiration in nature and joy in his many friendships.

September 17, 1930November 20, 2023 Alberta De La Rosa Sandate, of Alpine, peacefully joined the Lord on Monday, November 20, in Del Rio. She was 93 years old.

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Recalling fond memories The picture in the Avalance last week of the troops assembled in Florence, Italy, really triggered my history. I had to wonder if my father was standing there somewhere.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it. — Yogi Berra There are no coincidences in life.

As we roll through these holiday seasons, from Thanksgiving to Christmas we want to remind our citizens to stay vigilant. We have a tendency to let our guard down, especially during the holidays. The Alpine Police Department (APD) receives multiple reports of all types of SCAMS, thefts, and burglaries. Most of the time these reports are crimes of opportunity. Either we forget to lock the door behind us, leave something of value in public, or provide too much information on the internet. We all could use some reminders during the year. The Alpine Police Department has programs that can assist you at any time of the year.

The Alpine Lady Bucks played a close game last Tuesday against the Marathon Mustangs in a nondistrict home game. Each team gained considerable ground in each quarter, with the Mustangs leading the first two, the teams tying for the third, and Alpine leading the fourth. The game had to go into overtime, with the Marathon team ultimately taking the win 46-50.