December 2025

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Editor’s Note: These are a snapshot of just a few stories that impacted our region in 2025. Brewster Ranch sale results in funding repercussions for area ISDs The recent sale of the Brewster Ranch to the State of Texas leaves the county’s school districts, hospital district, and the county itself with even more reduced funding in their already precarious budgeting situations.

The Texas County Agricultural Agents Association selects outstanding men or women from throughout the State of Texas each year to be awarded plaques in recognition of their outstanding and significant contributions to Texas Agriculture. Awards are given for outstanding contributions to agriculture or any profession closely related to agriculture. This year, Dr. Ray Allen was awarded the Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture, Far West Texas District 6, at the annual TCAAA conference in Lubbock.

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When West Texas cyclists need a reason to keep their butts in the saddle through the sweltering summer heat, two fall events offer the perfect goal to sweat toward. The Marfa 100 and Cyclefest are regional staples that draw hundreds of cyclists each year, offering scenic routes, serious climbs, and a welcome change in altitude—not to mention attitude.

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It is no secret that black bears are here to stay in the Big Bend. In fact, the Borderlands Research Institute and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) are currently in the midst of a black bear study thanks in part to some “unruly” bears doing what bears dodigging into trashcans and becoming a nuisance in our communities. This is due to a couple of factors. One is that drought conditions are making food sources increasingly difficult for all wildlife to come by, and two, human habitation usually results in an easy meal.

It begins, awakening our senses: as chill winds blow, we watch the once-green leaves begin to fall, bereft of defenses made to submit to just one pattern as their red, yellow, orange, and brown corpses form an autumnal crunchy cover for the cold ground. Months fly by, and suddenly — then — it’s December: gray skies, and what was once a breeze mutates to a freezing draft. Though the days still allow some sunshine, each evening brings cooler temperatures: days begin with clouds that blanket the sky, then remain to remind us that winter has arrived, offering freezing rain, sleet— and, as an occasional touch— snowfall.