News

A city-wide clean-up is a fantastic way to bring volunteers who care about their community together for a common purpose, and to make the city more attractive and aesthetically pleasing. Besides sprucing up and lending a helping hand to the city’s cleaning crew, the cleanups allows residents to bond, socialize, and even get some good exercise in the process.

Property and hotel/motel taxes, along with a county-wide fire department update, led discussions at Brewster County Commissioners Court on July 12. Treasurer Julie Morton announced that as of the end of May the county has collected the majority of property taxes for this fiscal year, with $3.75 million so far, about a 96% collection rate.

Farmers Insurance teamed up with Marfa Meats, BBT, and Morrison’s True Value to host a tailgate party for the o6 Cowboys baseball team on July 8 at Kokernot Field in Alpine. Those attending the game against the Weimar Hormigas enjoyed burgers and got to mingle with the players. Avalanche photo by J.T. Maroney

Stephen Hummel, the Dark Skies Senior Outreach Program coordinator with McDonald Observatory, takes annual night sky measurements throughout the greater Big Bend to track changes in light pollution. The latest results show that Terlingua is getting brighter.

Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, “A son is born to you,” making him very glad. Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame? Read Jeremiah 20:7-18

Little Ely Hernandez of Marathon and her patriotic pony Bella Luna, along with Roberto Hernandez, enjoy a festive Independence Day ride at the Marathon Dog and Pony Parade held in downtown Marathon on July 2. A fun and festive time was had by all as parade participants marched with their canines dressed in red, white, and blue, along with children of all ages and their families.

The current exhibit, “Photographs by Edward S. Curtis,” at the Museum of the Big Bend opened mid-June and runs through Sept. 3. The exhibit was pulled from the museum’s extensive collections, and includes a variety of media, from photographs and maps, to artifacts.

A new National Park Service report shows that 581,220 visitors to Big Bend National Park in 2021 spent over $53 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 726 jobs in the area and had a cumulative benefit to the West Texas economy of $61 million.

On July 5 Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson facilitated Kokernot Park cleanup following Independence Day festivities. Deputies and correction officers escorted volunteer jail trustees to perform the cleanup.

Our Avalanche reporter asked, “Where would you go for your dream summer vacation? ” Clare Ritzi, Alpine: I would go to a warm beach, and mainly hang out in a beach rental house. I would like to take lots of my friends and family.