Opinion

“Thunder rolls And the lightnin’ strikes. Another love grows cold On a sleepless night.” ― Song lyrics by Garth Brooks A storm rages as I draft this column—rain, wind, lightning, thunder.

Once again, another year has flown by. Halloween marked the second anniversary of my official start as managing editor for the Alpine Avalanche.

“We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.” ― Robert Burns, “Auld Lang Syne” That 1700s Scots poem set to familiar music is often used to mark the end of something. In our culture, usually, another year is “for (the sake of) old times.” “Auld Lang Syne” became a U.S.

Why should the government be on the hook for natural disasters? The national news over the weekend was full of stories about congressional action on a bill to prevent a partial government shutdown. The Senate passed a compromise bill approved earlier by the House.

As 2024 comes to a close, it is a great time to reflect on the tremendous progress and accomplishments made by the City of Alpine over the past year. This has been a year of growth, service, and collaboration, and I am proud of what our city has achieved. Working hand-in-hand with the City Council, staff, and our community, we have laid the groundwork for a brighter future while continuing to provide essential services to our residents.

In the heart of West Texas lies Alpine, a small yet vibrant community that thrives on its deep sense of unity and resilience. I answered the call when the Alpine Volunteer Fire Department needed strong leadership. Taking over as fire chief in the middle of 2023, I stepped into a critical role with determination and a clear sense of purpose. My dedication, with the help of the rest of the members, has already begun to leave a lasting impact on the department and the broader Alpine community.

“Singin’ the blues while the lady cats cry, ‘Wild stray cat, you’re a real gone guy.’ I wish I could be as carefree and wild But I got cat class, and I got cat style.” ― The Stray Cats, an American rockabilly band I saw another news item about big cats in East Texas last week. This time, it was about a huge one up near Longview that ran out in front of a police cruiser at 3 a.m.

As we wrap up the fall semester and the year, I want to review some of Sul Ross State University’s many accomplishments in 2024. It’s been a success by all measures, including enrollment and retention – though we remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing growth and success in our student population and for the entire campus community.

“It is strange that the years teach us patience; that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.” ― Actress Elizabeth Taylor (1932 – 2011) “I’m going up to W.R. DeWoody’s Western Auto,” my grandfather announced one summer day in the early 1960s.

As fall turns to winter again, the changing seasons bring more than holiday cheer to many families. For youth livestock exhibitors and their families, this time of year also brings late nights, early mornings, cold temperatures, and an increased commitment of time and energy as they prepare their animals for livestock shows. The skills and life lessons learned through youth livestock projects are immeasurable, but their impact can be observed if you have the opportunity to watch these youth in the show ring.