October 2024

Send your community events to kara.gerbert@alpineavalanche. com November 1 First Friday Song Swap, 6 p.m.

Sul Ross State University has selected faculty recipients for outstanding scholarship and service for the 2024 term. The Office of the Provost coordinates the awards while recipients are nominated by their faculty peers.

Alpine High School was placed in lockdown this past Monday in response to a threat called in from a third-party site. This was done as a precaution after receiving the initial threat. A message was sent out to parents and via social media, alerting the public of the situation.

The Brewster County Sheriff ’s Office responded to a threatening 911 call on Monday morning, listing Big Bend Hospital and all law enforcement in the threat. This information was issued to Big Bend Regional Medical Center, and the hospital took safety measures and added several deputies to the premises.

Fort Davis held its annual Mile High Fire Academy last weekend. It hosted fire departments from Alpine, Marfa, Ozona, Davis Mountains Resort, McDonald Observatory, Wall, and El Paso County. The academy instructors included members from the Ozona, Marathon, El Paso, Fort Davis, and Fort Stockton fire departments, along with the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). Marathon’s Chief Brad Wilson was a lead instructor on fire dynamics and ground cover fires and assisted with the ropes and vehicle extraction courses. Academies such as this help to bring training to the area and strengthen relationships with the area departments. These training opportunities allow first responders to witness the capabilities and tactics of each of their fellow departments and bring new ideas from other departments within the state.

On Monday, October 28, after an aerial and ground search by the National Park Service rangers and U.S. Border Patrol supported by helicopters from the TX Department of Public Safety and U.S. Customs Air and Marine Operations, searchers located the body of a 24-year-old hiker along the Marufo Vega Trail.

The Alpine Police Department (APD) has embodied the “service before self” principle through community policing programs. The origin of APD’s communitycentered approach can be traced back to the mid-1990s. Understanding that the community’s trust was paramount for effective policing, we implemented a series of programs aimed at establishing a strong, positive relationship between the department and the residents. These programs were not merely reactive measures but thoughtfully designed initiatives that focused on proactive engagement with the citizens of Alpine.

“My daughter got her driver’s license, and I never see her anymore.” This casual comment, made at the coffee club gathering last week, hit close to home. Being one of the group’s senior members allows me to offer first-hand experience and valuable advice—completely free of charge.

The Alpine High School Fightin’ Bucks continued their undefeated march through district play with an impressive 59-22 victory over the Anthony Wildcats on Friday, October 25, in Anthony. This win cements Alpine’s 4-0 record in district competition as the Bucks keep their eyes on a district title and the momentum toward a strong playoff run.

Last week in Lubbock, the Region I cross-country championship was held at Mae Simmons Park on October 22. The boys’ and girls’ varsity teams competed after advancing from the district meet held in Presidio on October 9.