News

The City of Alpine held a special council meeting on Dec. 21 to discuss emergency medical services. Interim City Manager Megan Antrim announced the city had been notified that West Texas Ambulance Service will no longer be in operation as of Dec. 31 after the passing of former Alpine Fire Chief and EMS Director Mike Scudder, who owned the service.

At the Brewster County Commissioners Court regular meeting on Dec. 28, commissioners approved an agreement with Terlingua Fire and EMS to provide emergency medical service to the same coverage areas provided by West Texas Ambulance, effective Jan. 1, 2022. Commissioner. Pct. 3, Ruben Ortega and Commissioner, Pct. 4, Mike Pallanez were absent, but a quorum was present.

Editor’s note: Sul Ross State University made headlines several times this year, COVID-19 vaccines reached the Tri-County, delays in Alpine High School construction continued, and illegal aliens flooded the area as newly inaugurated President Joe Biden opened the U.S. borders. Following are the top headlines in the Alpine Avalanche from 2021.

Brewster County Sheriff’s Office Brown Santa visited Marathon Elementary School students on Dec. 16, bringing toys and joy to youngsters in grades pre-K through fourth. In the photo, back row, are Deputy Joey Prieto, Chief Deputy Ryan Skelton, Brown Santa, Sheriff Ronny Dodson, and Administrative Assistant Erica Chavez. Up front, happy kids smile after receiving their presents. Avalanche photo by Gail Diane Yovanovich

Sul Ross State University men’s hoops never trailed in their Dec. 19 road win, 71- 58, over Millsaps in Jackson, Miss.

Boys Basketball Dec. 29-31 Lubbock Caprock Tournament in Lubbock TBA Girls Basketball Dec.

A gift of $19,000 was given to the Sul Ross State University Department of Nursing from the Big Bend Regional Hospital District on Dec. 4, by Executive Director J.D. Newsome,and Board Chairman Buddy Cavness. The funds were received by Dr. Geraldine M. Goosen, Director of the BSN Nursing Program, and Dean Bonnie Warnock College of Agriculture, Life and Physical Sciences, to assist with providing equipment to enhance learning opportunities required by the nursing curriculum. Six students are currently enrolled in the nursing program. Courtesy photo

Things are slowly changing for the better for our local animals. Last weekend we hosted Animal Balance (animalbalance.org) to help us with the horrendous pet overpopulation problem in West Texas. On Saturday they spayed or neutered 30 dogs and cats in Presidio, and on Sunday an additional 26 in Marfa. This was the fourth Big Bend Big Fix Spay and Neuter pop-up, with the goal of having fewer unwanted and unloved animals suffering in our region. Fifty-six animals may not sound like a lot, but when one considers the hundreds of offspring they could have produced, it makes a tremendous difference.

Dennis and Donna (Boyd) Yadon Once upon a time in the 1960s, there was a Pik Nick convenience store in Alpine. Donna Boyd worked there.

Noah Daniel Zunker graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Government and a secondary in Astrophysics. A Midyear Graduate Recognition Ceremony was held on Dec. 3 in Cambridge, Mass.