April 2026

The Bucks got hot last week, and now they’re looking down at the rest of the district from the top of the mountain. Riding a three-game win streak capped by a statement victory on the road, Alpine surged into first place after defeating Kermit 11-2 on Thursday, April 2.

The Alpine Lady Bucks put together the kind of week that leaves little doubt about who controls the district race, combining explosive offense, aggressive base running, and lockdown pitching in a pair of run-rule victories over Anthony and Presidio.

Penny Hardaway passed away in Alpine on Monday, March 2, at the age of 83. Penny was born in Houston on November 15, 1942. She was an accomplished pianist and vocalist from a young age, playing piano and singing in her church. She received her teaching degree in music from the University of Houston and moved to Ft Stockton to begin her teaching career. There, she met and married William Hale Hardaway Sr. in 1966 and began a family. In 1970, they moved to Alpine.

With great sadness, Cecilia Garrett Davis, 87, of Fort Davis, passed away at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa on Monday, March 16, at 1:45 p.m. from complications due to a stroke.

Raymond (Ray) Paul Janiczek passed away peacefully on January 22, 2026, at his home in Alpine, at the age of 81. Born in February 1944 in Gary, Indiana, he grew up among a large extended Polish family. He excelled in drafting and physics. During his spare time, he learned auto mechanics from his uncle. After graduating from the Indiana Institute of Technology, he was recruited by Dow Chemical Texas Division, spending his career in the Brazosport area. Retirement offered him the chance to relocate. While traveling to Alpine, he fell in love with the mountains, people, and dark skies, choosing this as his forever home. A beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, he added value to others.

Claire Justine (Hess) Smith passed peacefully on March 12, 2026, in Louisville, KY. Born May 26, 1932, in San Antonio to Leonard M. Hess and Mary A. Rodesney, she was the granddaughter of L.L. Hess and Margaret K. Hess of Marathon. The oldest of six children, her early life was spent on the Hess Ranch and the family home in Marathon.

With great sadness, his family announces the passing of Samuel Pallanez Cordero of El Paso, who was a devoted man to his family and to the many he loved, at the age of 66, on March 10. Sam, a man whose life was defi ned by the steady work of his hands, the strength of character, leadership, and kindness of his heart, leaves behind a legacy that will forever resonate in the hearts of many in El Paso, Alpine, and across Texas.

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The Alpine ISD Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on Wednesday, March 18, at 5:30 p.m. District 4 board member Jimmy Morris was absent.