Opinion

I walk past it with every trip to my toolbox for another wrench - the tool I really needed when I thought the one in my hand would work. It’s a short journey through the door separating my workshop where the toolbox resides and the garage where my antique road warriors slumber.

“No problem.” That is how I used to reply to people who thanked me for holding the door open for them or for offering some other small gesture. I don’t know where I got into the habit of saying this to people, but I do not say it anymore.

Water - what to do with it, and what do we do without it? I am a fourth generation rancher in Brewster County. While I have only lived and ranched here for the last 20 years, I see first hand every day I am at the ranch what water means to our environment, lifestyle, business, and our very survival.

As the congressman for the Texas 23rd Congressional District, I am committed to serving the needs of my constituents. I take great pride in the hard work my team and I are doing for Texas.

Y’all come! Alpine Community Projects is hosting a potluck supper/social on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 5:30 p.m.

City to create strategic plan, citizen input needed As a governing body, the City of Alpine’s mission is “to provide quality service to the citizens of Alpine.” Quality can mean different things to different people, though, resulting in a less-than-direct approach to the many services and functions that encompass city government daily, from billing to street paving to providing parks for our citizens. This is why the city will be creating and implementing a strategic plan.

When one thinks of effective leadership, the word “love” rarely comes to mind. It’s hard to believe that it has been almost 10 years since I was submitting pieces to various news outlets related to why I felt I would be a good candidate for Brewster County Judge. My basic premise was that while I did not have the experience being involved with local government, I was very well versed at relationship building.

By now, many of you have heard about the Securities and Exchange Commission’s plan to require publicly traded companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed rule, issued earlier this year, requires these companies to disclose not only direct and energy-related emissions, but also those of every downstream supplier, known as Scope 3 Emissions.

Never forget Once again the Alpine Border Patrol Station put on a moving 9/11 memorial, but only 37 citizens were on hand to show their respect on this solemn, historic occasion. About 40 Border Patrol agents were in attendance, including their Honor Guard, off duty agents, DHS/HSI agents, the Big Bend Area Law Enforcement Officers Association president, and our EMS provider Emergent Air, and Alpine Volunteer Fire Department.

Sometimes I wonder what language we are speaking. Someone misuses our native tongue, and before long, everybody else picks it up.