News

Alpine City Attorney Rod Ponton was honored on the floor of the Texas Senate on May 22 with a special resolution. This senate resolution SR 626 was co-sponsored by Texas senators Roland Gutierrez and Cesar Blanco. The resolution commemorated Pontons’ distinguished 41year legal career devoted to the needs of Far West Texas. “I am honored by the resolution and will continue to advocate for the needs of Far West Texas,” noted Ponton.

Community leaders, and local, state, federal, and international officials were on hand for the offi cial ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new Presidio International Bridge that is owned and operated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The ceremony marked the official doubling of the capacity at the border crossing.

The Big Bend Regional Medical Center (BBRMC) will host a grand opening of its new clinic in Presidio on Wednesday, November 29. The Big Bend Regional Health Clinic (BBRHC) will have a ribbon cutting that will include several local leaders, performances by the Presidio High School Conjunto Band, appetizers, and more to celebrate the grand opening.

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The Brewster County Commissioners Court held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, December 12. After a long and difficult search, the Far West Texas public defender’s office has found a new location for their offices. They have signed a lease for the building located at 206 Avenue E. This update comes after the commissioner’s court had extended their ability to stay in the countyowned building at 205 N. 7th Street until February. They are scheduled to move into the new location on January 8. The offi ce recently celebrated its anniversary, as they started in a county office on December 15, 2017.

Most spectacularly, Ky Hamilton, a former Sul Ross State University rodeo team member and a native of Mackay, Australia, took the literal “bull by the horns” and won it all at this year’s Wrangler NFR Finals in Las Vegas. Not only is he the first Australian to win a PRCA Bull Riding Championship, but he also won the average, surpassing Stetson Wright’s high money total from last year by more than $3,000, and was the Top Gun high money winner, earning more than any other competitor at this year’s finals.

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Mainstreet in Marathon now boasts a gallery of fine art. The V6 Gallery, part of the Gage Properties owned by J.P. Bryan, will display fine art by local as well as other Western artists. Many of the offerings on display are by artists such as those exhibited in the annual Trappings of Texas display at the Museum of Big Bend.

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