News

Early voting for the Nov. 8 general election starts Monday, and voters will have plenty of opportunities to cast their ballots.

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The Sunshine House senior citizen center in Alpine is gearing up for its biggest fundraiser of the year on Oct. 22. The seventh annual Wild West Night is sure to get plenty of folks boot scootin’ for a worthy cause. It will raise funds for its meal programs, both congregate and the Meals on Wheels service that provides to seniors, the homebound, and disabled in Alpine and Marathon. Executive Director Kerie van Zeyst pointed out that the Sunshine House provides over 200 meals a day - around 180 at home, and 30-50 at the dining facility, ensuring that those who need it most receive a hot, nutritious meal.

Accessing high quality health care in a sparsely populated area like the Big Bend has become a focal point for many residents who often have difficulty seeing a doctor in a timely manner. Marathon will now debut a new health clinic to bridge that gap thanks to a partnership between Marathon resident Marci Roberts, the Marathon Foundation Board, and Texas Tech Health Science Center, a leading partner in the field of telemedicine.

With early voting later this month, on Monday, Oct. 17, at 5:30 p.m., a candidate forum will be held in the Alpine ISD auditorium, 704 West Sul Ross Avenue.

An education research program that investigates digital innovation and future-ready STEM teaching at Sul Ross State University has been officially named. The La Frontera STEM Research Institute will have offices on all four SRSU campuses in Alpine, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Uvalde.

On Sept. 15 at about 1:45 a.m., an unidentified sports utility vehicle traveling through town struck Stephen Halsall of the U.K. at the underpass on U.S. Highway 90 west of Alpine. Halsall was walking back to the Hampton Inn alone when he was struck by the vehicle.

During the week of Oct. 10, the National Park Service will continue with measures to protect desert bighorn sheep in Big Bend National Park, which includes reducing the population of non-native aoudad, or Barbary sheep. Beginning Oct. 11 the Park Service will partner with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to survey for native bighorn, and to remove invasive Barbary sheep using helicopters and staff trained in aerial shooting operations. The remote Deadhorse Mountains and surrounding areas, including the Dagger Flat Road and Old Ore Road, will be closed to entry. Closure areas will reopen once the surveys are completed. Closure signs will be posted for trailheads and roads. Barbary sheep are native to the dry mountains of Northern Africa, but now thrive within the rugged landscape of West Texas. Over the last 30 years, Barbary sheep have established a foothold within the park, and have increased significantly in recent years. Hundreds now roam the area, but the park is home to only a tiny population of native desert bighorn sheep. Barbary sheep occupy the same habitats as native bighorn, and negatively impact the natural ecology of the park. Large groups of aoudad can prevent desert bighorn from accessing water, threaten biodiversity, and impair park visitors’ ability to experience natural conditions and scenery. This effort is part of Big Bend’s long-term, integrated approach to control exotic animals and protect park resources. Management of aoudad is in keeping with the Big Bend Exotic Animal Management Plan and Environmental Assessment finalized in June 2018. For more information on the ongoing efforts of the state to support native bighorn sheep and remove non-native aoudad, contact the TPWD Press Office at 512-389-8030 or news@tpwd.texas. gov.

Entertaining and educational, a special event offered at the Jeff Davis County Library on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. will highlight the importance of bees. Kim Lehman is a professional beekeeper, story teller, musician, author, and inspiring performer who is back by popular demand. She captivated a large audience in 2018 keeping children and parents engaged for nearly an hour.

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