January 2024

The Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend (FCCBB) in conjunction with the Big Bend Community Action Committee (BBCAC) and West Texas Opportunities (WTO) has been working towards taking over the operation of the TRAX transportation program formerly run by BBCAC.

The Tri-County Voter Promoters have released the dates and locations for their voter registration promotion in the Big Bend area. Today, February 1 from 11 a.m.

Two Alpine firefi ghters recently completed their certifications at the Texas Public Safety Training Academy for both Firefi ghter1 and Firefighter2 as well as a HazMat program. Both Shelby Green (FF/Chaplain) and Jacob Goodman (FF) were students at Sul Ross and answered emergency calls in the area. Pictured are Assistant Chief Charles Worden, Green, Goodman, and AVFD Chief Andrew Pierce.

The Sul Ross State University Rodeo Team in conjunction with the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering is extending an invitation to all high school juniors and seniors and all junior college transfers to compete in a scholarship rodeo to be held February 14 at 6 p.m. This rodeo will take place at the Sul Ross SALE Arena and it will consist of all the 10 standard National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association events.

Late last year, Sul Ross State University announced the creation of a new scholarship called the Presidential Plus Scholarship. This full-ride scholarship is aimed at area high school students from the high schools in the school districts of Alpine and the Big Bend and Permian Basin area.

The Museum of the Big Bend (MoBB), located on the campus of Sul Ross State University has been nominated by USA Today as 2024’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice travel awards in the Best Smalltown Museum category.

Antonio Nunez, Jr., 80, “Tony or Chito” as he was known to family, beloved father, and spouse was called to his eternal resting place on January 27. He entered this world on December 26, 1943, in Ruidosa, Texas, born to Antonio and Carmen Nunez.

Rebecca Smith “Becky” passed away on January 20 at the age of 92, after a long illness. She was a registered nurse and a Captain in the Air Force, stationed at Loring Air Force Base, Strategic Air Command in Limestone, Maine. For the last 40 years, she ranched in Alpine. She is survived by a longtime friend and partner, Cathy Fortenberry, nephews Nathan Smith and Jeff Porter, first cousin Joy Robinson, numerous extended family, and a multitude of close friends. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Marie Smith, and Clarence Smith. Her three brothers and a sister, Tommy, Robert, Mickey, and Pat, close friend, and mentor Perry Cartwright. A private memorial will be held at a later date. She will be missed by all.

I’ve noticed Texas state flag posters displayed with “Proud Democrat” printed on them. I couldn’t help but wonder what made these Democrats so proud. Might it be an elimination of U.S. Energy Independence? What about the selling of U.S. Strategic Oil Supply to the CCP? Could it be the uninhibited printing of money that caused record inflation? I’ve searched elsewhere in case these harmful policies weren’t reasons for their “deadly sin of pride.” More than 1,000 babies are killed daily by the Democrat- ran Planned Parenthood while child castrations and mastectomies are performed under the pretense of “sex changes.” Joseph Mengele would have been proud. Democrat men pretend to be women while acting out in degrading female stereotypes as Democrats show them more respect than real women, and Democrat guys pretend to be gals in sports often defeating and sometimes injuring females. Are they proud of those actions? There’s Democrat “diversity, equity, and inclusion” that’s “divisive, exclusive, and inequitable,” and don’t forget the Democrat-created “Open U.S. Borders.” Are they proud of those harmful agendas? There’s plenty more but I’ve only so much space here. These posters displaying Democrats strike me as folks who would use the phrase “Proud as A Rooster,” not caring that roosters run their fathers off, have relations with their mothers and daughters, and scratch around in their own crap all day long. James R. Le Blanc Fort Davis

At a recent school board meeting, a portion of the conversation revolved around the STAAR test, or State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, and how students were struggling with the writing portion of this statemandated “standardized”