August 2021

Always one to thrive on a challenge, cooking something that I have never tried before feeds my competitive spirit. Thankfully, I have several friends who enjoy being my guinea pigs when I attempt something new.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recently announced that Black Gap Wildlife Management Area has been designated as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by the International Dark-Sky Association. Black Gap WMA is the second TPWD property to receive the sanctuary designation, joining Devils River State Natural Area-Del Norte Unit that was designated as a Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2019.

Alpine Humane Society Pet of the Week is Beans, a big dog with chill vibes and who isn’t afraid to lean on others, literally. He likes to rub, put his entire weight on you, then prance around with his long ears flopping like an overgrown puppy. His tail is a mile long, and it never stops wagging!

What activities were you involved in during your senior year? I was a girls’ state UIL delegate alternate. Who was your most influential teacher or coach through high school? Coach Mo.

Jimmy Morris, Alpine:: Walking into Mrs. Hobson’s class with my best friends and buttering her up so we could be her favorite students all year and not have to do homework. It didn’t work. I got stuck with a lot more homework than everyone else.

Combining outdoor fun while learning valuable life skills in a Christianbased environment is what drives the Holy Cross Anglican Church boys’ organization Trail Life TX Troop 0040. Fr.

Parents Luke Hendryx and Emily Hendryx, a third grade teacher at Alpine Elementary School, pause for a photo with children Bristol, 2, and Brooklyn, 4, as they join in the fun at the Back to School Bash-Meet the teacher on Aug. 23 at the elementary school. Families of the students had a picnic on the front lawn where hot dogs and snacks were served to kick off the 2021-2022 school year. Avalanche photo by Roxanne Hill

In 2019, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said that the first thing he did when he arrived at his office was to check the previous day’s border apprehension totals. Under 1,000 was, Johnson said, “a relatively good day,” and over 1,000 was “a relatively bad number” because that “overwhelms the system.”