RECOGNIZED – Marathon School Superintendent Conrad Arriola accepted a plaque from the Marathon Booster Club for its “recognized” status
for two years in a row by the Texas Academic Excellence Indicator System. Shown with him were teacher Andrea Johnson, center, and
school Secretary Coy Gonzales.
Buena Vista tramples Mustangs
MARATHON -- The Mustang boys got off to a slow start in district play Tuesday night, losing to the Buena
Vista Long-horns 53-29.
Starting for the home team were Cito Hernandez, Zach Gonzales, Omar Grano, Colten Johnson and Jerek Lara.
Cito put the first points on the board for the Mustangs with 3:40 left in the first period.
Read more...By ARLENE GRIFFIS
Marathon Editor
MARATHON – The Chamber of Commerce here decided this week to have a “mixer” at a local business once
a month to promote that business and all others in the community.
The idea was to foster a greater spirit of community among old-timers,
newcomers, part-time residents and visitors.
The first such event will be later this month and details will be published in the newspaper
and posted on the bulletin board next to the post office.
President Hal Henthorne said the primary function of the Chamber is to develop
and promote the civic, economic, social and cultural assets of the community and one of its short-term goals is to increase membership
and participation.
But he said in trying to recruit new members, some folks have expressed the idea that being Chamber members
does not necessarily help their business.
“Whether people realize it or not, everything the Chamber of Commerce does will help all
businesses, at least indirectly, because anything that puts our town into the forefront has the potential of directing customers into
the stores, galleries, restaurants, places of lodging and service stations,” Henthorne said.
Marathon ISD feted
MARATHON – The Marathon Independent School District has received the coveted “gold performance acknowledgment” award
based on the 2007-08 scores with the Texas Academic Excellence Indicator System.
After being designated as “low performing” following the 2005-06 academic year, the district has improved and has achieved “recognized” status for two consecutive years.
Marathon students scored well in every category measured, but Superintendent Conrad Arriola noted particular areas of strength.
Read more...SandRidge Energy CEO sells stock
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sand- Ridge Energy Chief Executive Officer Tom L. Ward has sold nearly nine million
shares of common stock to Tulsa businessman George B. Kaiser for “debt service and tax planning needs.”
The company, which has extensive operations in West Texas, said after the “privately negotiated transaction,” Ward continues to beneficially own 29.05 million shares, or 17.5 percent, of SandRidge common stock.
The shares were sold for an aggregate price of $50 million, or $5.62 per share.
Read more...By MARK GLOVER
Contributing Editor
ALPINE – “I didn’t like the man I had become,” Clarence Russeau said. His green eyes peered through
wire-frame glasses as he sat erect at the table at La Trattoria.
“I watched a Marine scream at the Haitian prisoners and I didn’t do a thing,” he said. He swept his hand across his bald head. “I was just like him.”
Read more...By ARLENE GRIFFIS
Marathon Editor
MARATHON – We got a rare treat last week when we spotted four black bears while hiking in Big Bend
National Park.
For the past several years, it has been a tradition for Steve and me to hike in the park on New Year’s Day.
My brother Dennis Prescott and his wife Ruth like to join us whenever possible.
For the past two years, this has been made easier by the fact that they live in Waco instead of Starkville, MS, where they had resided for the previous decade
Read more...By T.J. JOYNER
Pastor, Marathon Baptist Church
MARATHON – A passage in the Bible found in 2 Samuel, Chapter 6, tells an interesting
story about a powerful king who danced with all his might before the Lord.
The king’s name was David and he was dancing because he (only by the grace and power of God) had accomplished something great for the Lord and His people, a task which had proven very difficult and even dangerous.
An intriguing part of the story is how David’s wife Michal responded to King David’s dance.
Read more...Book return sought
MARATHON – The Marathon Public Library, a branch of the Alpine Public Library, asked readers to check for unreturned
library books and other materials.
“It is a new year and as you are ‘taking out the old and bringing in the new,’ the Marathon Public Library asks that you look around your house or wherever you use your library materials and return any overdue materials,” Librarian Carol Townsend said. “The library does not assess late charges so please bring back your ‘old’ materials so they can be ‘new’ for another patron to use.
“If you would like to verify which materials you have checked out, please call the library at 432/386-4136,” she said.
~
Fundraiser at Burro
MARATHON – The Marathon Volunteer Fire Department and the Friends of the Marathon Public Library jointly hosted
a New Year’s Day luncheon at the Famous Burro Bar and Grill.
Fire department members cooked up a tasty selection, which included
roast pork loin, sausage, baked potatoes, glazed carrots, clam chowder, sauerkraut, beans and black-eyed peas.
Library Friends served lunches to approximately 85 customers who purchased the meals, which raised approximately $700 for the two organizations.
Read more...January school board month
AUSTIN – As it is every year, January has been proclaimed School Board Recognition Month.
Gov. Rick Perry
made the proclamation this week.
“The biggest challenge of education is also one of its greatest strengths,” Perry said. “During a
time when state and national mandates rightly place more emphasis than ever on setting the bar high for education, it remains important
for each community to retain control of its own educational system.”
The Terrell County School Board includes President Ada Lee Robbins,
Vice President Eddie Benavidez, Secretary Johnnie Couch and members Sandy Pierce, Cheryl Seidel, Neto Calzada and James Chapoy. Superintendent
is Gary Hamilton.
The Marathon School Board includes President Don Fuéntez, Secretary Jesus Grano and members Samuel Salmon, Rhonda Garlick, Sixto Aguilar, Jr., and Brent Charlesworth. Superintendent is Conrad Arriola. One position on the board is currently vacant.
Read more...Bechtel grants offered
MARFA – The George Bechtel Fund now is taking applications for its book grants for the spring 2009 semester
at Sul Ross State University, available to students from Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio Counties.
The Book Grant program provides
money to qualified Sul Ross students to help them purchase textbooks.
Qualified students must have graduated from a high school in one of the three counties, have taken at least 24 semester credit hours of college work, maintained a 2.7 grade point average or better and be a fulltime student in good standing at the university.
Read more...By ARLENE GRIFFIS
Library Friend
MARATHON – The reason this column did not appear last week is that there was so much going on during Christmas that
I wanted to get into the paper, particularly the Christmas play and the Gingerbread Man article, as both of these involved the school
kids.
They enjoy seeing their names in the paper, so I try to cover as many of their activities as possible
Things have been really busy at the library despite the fact that it was “officially” closed much of the holiday season.
Librarian Carol Townsend, Experience Works employee Shirley Rooney and several volunteers from the Friends of the Library have been working diligently to change the spine labels and call numbers on every book and movie in the library in preparation for conversion to the new Biblionics system to which both the Alpine and Marathon libraries are in the process of converting.
Read more...Brewster County Judge
Val Beard
P. O. Box 1630
Alpine, TX 79831
432/819-2412
Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson
201 W. Ave
E.
Alpine, TX 79830
432/837-3488
County Commissioner
Ruben Ortega
P. O. Box 233
Marathon. TX 79842
432-294- J 096
Marathon
ISD Superintendent Conrad Arriola
N. 5th Street
Marathon. TX 79842
432/386-4431
Terrell County Judge
Leo Smith
P. O. Box 4810
432/345-2421
Terrell County Sheriff
Clint McDonald
P. O. Box 320
Sanderson, TX 79848
432/345-2525
Terrell County
ISD Superintendent
Gary Hamilton
P.O. Box 747
Sanderson, TX 79848
432/345-2515
CAN YOU ‘BEAR’ IT? – Marathon News Leader Editor Arlene Griffis spotted a foursome of black bears on a recent hike in Big Bend National
Park, including this pair. She was on the hike with husband Steve, her brother Dennis Prescott and his wife Ruth. See story
below.
COUNSELOR’S BACKGROUND – Service in the Army and two years as an addict, coupled with lessons of honesty and courage, have given Clarence
Russeau the background he needs as a counselor. He now serves the Big Bend Family Crisis Center in Alpine.
TAKE A HIKE – Intrepid hikers, from left, Steve and Arlene Griffis and Ruth and Dennis Prescott spotted black bears on a recent hike
in Big Bend National Park. The black bears have returned and this foursome found an equal number of bears.
CONVERTIBLE OFFICE – Travis Roberts and son Travis Roberts were spotted “coming out” of the roof of the Sanderson Motel this week.
The Roberts family bought the long-abandoned motor inn and are spiffing up the facility. Katie Roberts said plans are not yet firm
but, if it opens as a motel, it will be “more in the way of a bed and breakfast.” Travis and Travis are the son and grandson
of Travis Roberts of Marathon.
BRITISH NEW YEAR – Clarissa Brotherton of Sanderson was shown near the Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London. She was there
to participate in the New Year’s Day Parade as part of the Universal Cheerleaders Association All Stars. Blakeney Chriesman and Lizette
Ramirez of Sanderson were also named all stars but chose not to participate in the trip. Clarissa is the daughter of Bobby and
Teresa Brotherton of Sanderson.
JUNIOR LAMBS – Siblings Eliza and Doodle Odgers were among the Terrell County 4H members participating in the annual Sandhills Livestock Show in Odessa. They competed in the junior market lamb division. Eliza and Doodle are the daughter and son of Johnny and Stephanie Odger of Sanderson.
