Opinion

For several months, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Task Force has studied options for providing ambulance service to North Brewster County. South Brewster County has Emergency Services District 1 (ESD 1), which provides EMS and Fire service. The northern boundary of ESD 1 is a straight line across the county, just north of Santiago Peak. The Task Force was appointed by the county judge. Its membership includes elected officials, health care providers, and emergency services representatives covering EMS and fire, as well as residents of Alpine, Marathon, and the County.

Big Bend projects removed from ‘Smart Wall’ plan U.S. Customs and Border Protection has updated its “Smart Wall” map to remove two planned projects in the Big Bend area, including one slated for Big Bend National Park, according to the Texas Standard.

Conversations in the Big Bend lately have focused almost exclusively on the possible construction of a border wall in the region. These conversations are complex, emotional, and deeply important to the people who call the Big Bend home.

“There’s only one thing you have to know.” — Dr. Heber Taylor, former Communication Chair at Stephen F.

“Man must rise above the Earth, to the top of the atmosphere and beyond, for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives.” — Attributed to Socrates, Greek philosopher (470-399 BC) I wonder about things. For instance, how Socrates conjured up “rising above the earth to the top of the atmosphere” 400 years before Christ? Way before TSA security checkpoints, photo IDs, and lost luggage.

Sleep is more than rest—it is essential to heart health, brain function, metabolism, and immune support. Yet millions of Americans struggle with poor sleep quality, often without realizing that an underlying condition may be the cause.

Empty Buildings, Empty Wallets: How Alpine’s rental greed is killing our community Walk down any street in Alpine, and you’ll see them: vacant apartments with sunbleached ‘For Rent’ signs. Meanwhile, Sul Ross students cram four people into twobedroom units, young professionals commute 50 miles daily, and local businesses can’t find workers who can afford to live here.

For three days in February, Alpine became the center of one of the most important water conversations in Texas. Landowners, scientists, groundwater conservation district leaders, legislators, judges, nonprofit partners, and community members gathered at Sul Ross State University for the Water in the Desert 2026 conference.

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, a chance to brush up on the facts about colorectal cancer, one of the most preventable—and treat-able— cancers when detected early. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.

Dear Editor, Recently, the City of Alpine began sending my gas usage bill to me instead of my landlord, the property owner. Having a very accommodating landlord, he agreed to allow me to pay for my gas usage and debit my rent payment accordingly.