Opinion

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security has moved forward with plans for the construction of a physical border wall through Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. So, why no wall? Here are my questions: Why does it matter to me? It is unnecessary because immigration through the Big Bend section of the border is 1% of the total for the southern border and constitutes ¼ of its length, 517 miles.

One of the most important responsibilities in local government is maintaining a city charter that reflects current law, best practices, and the needs of the community it serves. Over time, changes in state law, court rulings, and voter-approved measures can leave portions of a charter outdated or inconsistent. For that reason, the Alpine City Council has begun a comprehensive review of our Home Rule Charter, and residents are invited to participate in this important process.

The City of Alpine is undergoing an exciting period of growth and revitalization as the city council and city staff pursue strategic projects designed to strengthen both the local economy and quality of life for residents and visitors. We are using a forward- looking approach to development by balancing tourism promotion, infrastructure improvement, and essential community services. We are committed to sustainable progress that benefits all sectors of the community.

“Alexa told me to take a break. Who’s working for whom here?” — Ginni Rometty, Former CEO of IBM “How’s retirement?” I’m asked that often since that retirement party I never planned.

In the Big Bend, land has a long memory. Heavy summer rains can carve new channels overnight. Wind strips exposed soil a little more each season. Plants that aren’t truly adapted may survive at first, then quietly fail. For many Alpinearea property owners, these changes don’t come from misuse of the land, but from applying conventional landscaping ideas to a desert environment that operates on very different terms.

“A grandmother’s kitchen — where memories are seasoned with love.” — Author unknown but likely well nourished Just like Sunday dinner at Granny’s house. That was my first thought last week at Lions Club, where fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, and hot rolls were served up for the civic club luncheon.

Last fall, our current EMS provider, Emergent Air, indicated that they would no longer provide ground ambulance services for the northern half of Brewster County, effective at some point in late 2026 or early 2027. Emergent Air was contracted in 2022 to provide EMS services to the City of Alpine, Marathon, and north Brewster County. Their decision to exit ground 911 service was a business decision on their part and not a performance issue. We appreciate and thank them for the work they have done over the last four years.

For years, our community has understood a simple reality: Alpine ISD has been asked to do more with less. At times, our funding per student need ranked in the bottom 2% in Texas. That’s not a complaint— it’s a reality we’ve had to face head-on. And it’s why the progress we’re seeing now matters so much.

There aren’t many places like Alpine. The remote location, the beautiful views, the great weather: We’ve got it all. There’s a reason some folks refer to this place as the Alpine Vortex. People move away, but many of them seem to find their way back to our small desert oasis.

At least 11 people have died in Texas, nearly half of them children, after Winter Storm Fern swept the state last week, the Texas Standard reported. Among those killed were three young brothers who fell through ice on a private pond near Bonham, about 60 miles northeast of Texas. In the Dallas suburb of Frisco, two teens died after a sledding accident. They were riding on a sled being pulled by a vehicle.