January 2024

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The Apache Corporation announced on December 11 that they would be partnering with the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University to conduct a well pad restoration project. This project will span multiple years, and BRI along with Texas Native Seeds, a project of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M Kingsville, plans to investigate methods to improve habitat restoration efforts in the Permian Basin; the goal being to publish a sciencebacked, best practices reclamation document to be shared with other operators in the Permian Basin oil field.

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WEEK Alpine Humane Society Pet of the Week is Ellie. Ellie is a year-old female cat. She is the all-around Zen kitty. She appears to be very secure and adaptable and is a bit quiet. Her authentic personality will show itself in your home after she has adapted. If you already have a cat in your home, Ellie will prefer to spend gentle time with them. Although still young, Ellie is a calm cat who wants to be in your presence.

on the What was your favorite memory of 2023? .

Jan. 13 SRSU Guided and Informative Hike, 9 a.m. A guided hike open to the public up Hancock Hill will be themed “general hike” led by Alex Hettena, Bill Adams, and Maureen Frank from the Borderlands Research Institute.

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Most locals in the area know to avoid going out into our favorite locations during the holiday season, as people from all over the world come to the Big Bend to benefit from what we enjoy every day, however, sometimes that unspoken rule is forgotten, and they brave the crowds of visitors.

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Dear Neil: My wife and I are having discussions about whether I should remove a native cedar tree from our landscape. She tests positive for allergies to cedar pollen, and this time of year her miseries begin for a couple of months. She wants me to remove the tree, but we both think it’s very pretty if it weren’t for the pollen. Even its blue berries are attractive, and I notice the birds love them. My contention is that there are dozens of other cedars nearby and that even if I take our one tree out, she will still be hit with the pollen from other trees around us. Do you have any advice?