December 2023

Lobo men break losing streak

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The Sul Ross Lobo men’s basketball team took on Navajo Tech last Sunday and Concordia last Monday at the Gallego Center, where they would ultimately win in triple digits in a highscoring game against Concordia and scrape by Navajo Tech by four.

Lady Lobos 1-1 in home games before holidays

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The Sul Ross State Lady Lobos hit the court at the Gallego Center the week before Christmas to take on the Concordia Tornadoes on Monday and the Northern New Mexico College Eagles on Tuesday. Coach E.J. Smith’s ladies would take the W against Concordia, 74-69 but would fall in a nail-biter on Tuesday afternoon to Northern New Mexico in a 62-67 loss.

Elidia Gallego Leyva

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Elidia Gallego Leyva, 89, of Alpine, Texas passed away December 18, 2023 at her residence. Elidia was born on July 19, 1934 to Ben and Amelia Gallego in Alpine, Texas. She attended Centennial School. She was married to Abelardo Leyva and was mother to Abelardo “Ito” Leyva, Jr. and Orlando Leyva.

Elidia was an avid baseball fan and attended the Alpine Cowboys games. She loved to cook and entertain. She was an Alpine Bucks fan and loved her scratch-offs.

Elidia Gallego Leyva

Davis Mountains State Park under new leadership

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Davis Mountains State Park (DMSP), located just northwest of Fort Davis is under the new leadership of Diego Aragon, who is the new park superintendent. Aragon, previously at Choke Canyon State Park took over on October 1.

Public defender’s office finds new location

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The Brewster County Commissioners Court held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, December 12. After a long and difficult search, the Far West Texas public defender’s office has found a new location for their offices. They have signed a lease for the building located at 206 Avenue E. This update comes after the commissioner’s court had extended their ability to stay in the countyowned building at 205 N. 7th Street until February. They are scheduled to move into the new location on January 8. The offi ce recently celebrated its anniversary, as they started in a county office on December 15, 2017.

Tough enough to win it all

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Most spectacularly, Ky Hamilton, a former Sul Ross State University rodeo team member and a native of Mackay, Australia, took the literal “bull by the horns” and won it all at this year’s Wrangler NFR Finals in Las Vegas. Not only is he the first Australian to win a PRCA Bull Riding Championship, but he also won the average, surpassing Stetson Wright’s high money total from last year by more than $3,000, and was the Top Gun high money winner, earning more than any other competitor at this year’s finals.
Ky Hamilton sits aboard “Alberta Prime Devil’s Advocate” in Round 7 during the Wrangler NFR Finals last Wednesday night. Photo courtesy of Roseanna Sales

Fine art collection now available in Marathon

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Mainstreet in Marathon now boasts a gallery of fine art. The V6 Gallery, part of the Gage Properties owned by J.P. Bryan, will display fine art by local as well as other Western artists. Many of the offerings on display are by artists such as those exhibited in the annual Trappings of Texas display at the Museum of Big Bend.
Art aficionados and featured artists alike gathered in the new V6 Fine Art Gallery, located on the main street next to the V6 Collection in Marathon during its grand opening on December 2. Photo by Kara Gerbert

Bucks topple Panthers in West Texas Shootout

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The Alpine Fightin’ Bucks have returned home from the West Texas Shootout Tournament that was held last week, where they would finish tournament play sitting 2-2. “Always a great competition! Estacado is ranked 7th in the state for a reason.
Ferris Daley gears up for a shot against Fort Stockton during tournament play. Photo by Shawn Yorks

Lady Bucks enter district play with a bang

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The Lady Bucks won their first two district games last week. On Wednesday, December 13 they faced the Presidio Blue Devils in a district away game and on Friday they returned home for a district home opener against Compass Academy from Odessa.
Novah Carrasco blocks a Van Horn player at the Lady Buck’s last home game. Photo by Joh Covington