News

The Office of the Provost at Sul Ross State University is proud to announce the Fall 2025 schedule for the Science Seminar Series. The program was launched following a recommendation from the “Research Forum for the Sciences” in Fall 2023. The goals of the seminar series are to highlight the research expertise available across the sciences at Sul Ross State University, inspire students to pursue careers in the sciences, and encourage interdepartmental collaboration. The seminar series is open to all students, faculty, and the Big Bend community. They are each one hour long, after which all participants are encouraged to continue conversations at an off-campus mixer. All seminars will be held in the Warnock Science Building, Room 201, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., with a mixer following at The Ritchey. The schedule is as follows: Thursday, September 18: Dr. Erika Blecha, Archeologist, Center for Big Bend Studies: “No Bones About It: Understanding the Intersection of Past Environments and People Through Animal Remains.” Tuesday, October 14: Dr. Justin French, Big Game Specialist, Borderlands Research Institute and Assistant Professor of Wildlife Management, Department of Natural Sciences: “Big Scales and High Stakes: Quantitative Approaches in Big Game Management.” Thursday, November 20: Dr. Elizabeth Measures, Professor of Geology, Department of Natural Sciences: “Geology and Math: Flexibility in Research and Teaching.” Wednesday, December 3: Dr. Clifton Albrecht, Assistant Professor of Botany, Department of Natural Sciences: “Blank Places on the Map of Trans-Pecos Botany: Selected Knowledge Gaps in Taxa and Localities.”

The Alpine Fightin’ Bucks opened their 2025 football season on the road Friday night but came up short against the Wellington Skyrockets, falling 57-15 in Snyder in a game played in a neutral location. The non-district contest was a tough start for Alpine, as Wellington’s speed and precision on offense proved too much to contain.

Fire hydrants in the City of Alpine have come under increased scrutiny recently, after Ward 3 Councilman and volunteer firefighter Robert Ruckes asked the AVFD for help with maintenance and pressure checks.

Heading south down Hwy 118, 70 miles, the highway intersects Terlingua Ranch Road. It’s at this junction, in the middle of the desert, that the Lazy Bear offers up some of the finest seafood options in Brewster County.

.

Now that school is back in session, kids are bombarded with homework and after-school activities, leaving little room for mom or dad to whip up a multi-course meal while also running a taxi service. The simplest way to ensure your family has a filling meal at the end of the day is to utilize your handy crockpot.

.

Gary Morton, 61, of Valentine, passed away Monday after being in an El Paso ICU since August 2 after an altercation at the Valentine bar left him in critical condition. The Avalanche spoke with Gary’s daughter, Julie Morton, who is the Brewster County Treasurer, about the incident.

The Brewster County Commissioners Court met Tuesday, August 26, in the commissioner’s courtroom at the Brewster County Courthouse. All commissioners were present, with Brewster County Judge Greg Henington presiding over the meeting.