April 2026

The Alpine Lady Bucks delivered a masterclass at the District 4-3A Championships, capturing their sixth consecutive district title with a commanding team total of 240 points. The team’s depth was on full display in the 400-meter dash, where Emy Hernandez, Andynne Ramirez, and Haily Adams secured a clean sweep of the top three spots. This dominance extended to the field events, with Naida Morris taking first place in the pole vault and Nevaeh Carrasco winning the triple jump, followed closely by teammate Hallie Wood in second place. Ailea Fierro also claimed a district title in the discus with a throw of 102’ 6”, while the Alpine relay teams solidified the championship with goldmedal victories in both the 4x200-meter and 4x400-meter races.

On April 1, 2026, the world became a little dimmer as we lost one of the best people to ever walk the earth. Ronald Kevin Krut of Alpine, known to many as Captain Ron, passed away in El Paso, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and laughter.

Marcella Celaya Portillo, age 86, of Monahans, passed away on April 2, 2026, in Odessa. She was born on January 16, 1940, in San Vicente, Texas, to Federico Macias and Maria Santiago Celaya. Marcella was raised and spent most of her young life in Marathon and Big Bend National Park.

The Big Bend Regional Hospital District held its regular meeting on March 25 at 3 p.m. at its offices in Alpine.

The Alpine City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers.

The biggest claim to fame for Pecos, Texas, is that it is home to the World’s First Rodeo. Originating on July 4, 1883, cowboys from local area ranches such as the Lazy Y and the NA competed against one another to determine who was the best at roping and riding, thus establishing a 143-year-old tradition.

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We have been blessed with some recent Spring rainfall over the past several days, which will significantly contribute to a seasonal green-up that will help to kickstart our growing season. This earlyseason rainfall is particularly important this year due to the fact that we have an abundance of forage remaining from last year’s growth, which in turn leads to a significant increase in wildfire risk. When West Texas misses out on spring moisture, which is not at all unusual, summer thunderstorms bring a large dose of anxiety with them as the lightning produced is a major contributor to wildfires.

Dear Editor, I read with interest your article “BBRHD continues rural health advancements.” The article gives the false impression that the OBBBA is a net positive for rural healthcare. In an effort to partially offset the loss of revenue to the U.S. Treasury caused by the OBBBA’s enormous tax cut to millionaires and billionaires, the Republican-led Congress, which passed this bill, cut subsidies needed to fund health insurance premiums for low-income Americans under Obamacare and created new barriers for those seeking healthcare funding under Medicaid, resulting in millions of Americans being denied the health care they need. Those impacted include the elderly, disabled, and children.

Dear Editor, In 1972, while undergoing U.S. infantry training for that war in Southeast Asia, I went through escape and evasion training at Fort Ord, California. A sobering experience, it was traumatic for this then, recently graduated college student, i.e., this 21-year-old. But from what I have learned in the last half century, that training was kindergarten school compared to today’s elite escape and evasion version.