VESPAPOWER – Claus Ohlendorf and Juergen Wehr of Hamburg, Germany warmed up at a gas station on Highway 90 in Brewster County last
week refueling their Vespa motorscooters. The duo, along with three other Germans on Vespas, were about halfway on their coast to
coast tour of the United States. They left Miami on Dec 28 and hoped to be in San Diego by Jan 18. "On the flats we make 55 mph but
out here in your mountains we are lucky to make 40 mph," Ohlendorf said.
Big Bend beats Mustang boys
By ARLENE GRIFFIS
Marathon Editor
MARATHON – The Mustang boys came out second best as they hosted the Big
Bend Paisanos for the second time this season Tuesday.
Although the final score did not end up in the Mustangs’ favor, with Big Bend claiming a 53-31 victory, the home team looked much better than they have since before the Christmas break, showing improvement in several areas.
Starting for Marathon were Cito Hernandez, Zach Gonzales, Omar Grano, Colten Johnson and Edward Gonzales.
Read more...By MARK GLOVER
Contributing Editor
LAJITAS – A bridge is being planned here to provide additional access to Mexico that could be a boon
to tourism in the area.
Since “informal” crossings here and at Boquillas in Big Bend National Park were closed after the “911” attack
in New York and Washington, there has been no legal access between Presidio/Ojinagas and Del Rio/Acuña, a distance of more than 300
highway miles.
“Tourism is good because it provides jobs, generates revenue and exposes the Big Bend region to other people,” Lajitas
Resort CEO Edwin Leslie told the News Leader Tuesday. “And the bridge will be good for tourism.”
Leslie and the Lajitas Resort hope
to construct a bridge and open a Class A Port of Entry at the Rio Grande, connecting Lajitas with Paso Lajitas, Chi.
“We are proposing
to absorb all the costs so there will be no tax burden to the citizens at the local, state and federal levels,” Leslie said.
The proposed
bridge, a two- lane vehicular, structure would be “strictly non-commercial,” Leslie said.
That means tractor-trailer rigs would still
need to use Presidio/Ojinaga, 60 miles to the west or Del Rio/Acuna, 300 miles to the east as their port of entry.
The road beyond
the bridge leads to San Carlos, offering tourists an opportunity to visit “a picturesque Mexican village,” Leslie said.
Although the road is presently unpaved, it does
Read more...By MARK GLOVER
Contributing Editor
ALPINE – “Look at the wind charts,” Mark Upshaw said, looking up at the Skystream windmill he installed
at his sister-in-law Donna Upshaw’s private residence here last month.
“The wind shoots down from the panhandle and blows right through the mountains of west Texas,” he said. “We’re in a perfect place for it.”
Read more...Lady Colts top Eagles
By ARLENE GRIFFIS
Marathon Editor
MARATHON – The Lady Colts defeated the Lady Eagles of Sanderson Monday by a score
of 45-17.
The home team took charge from the opening tip-off and never let up.
Starting for the Colts were Krystal Aguilar, Julia
Ramirez, Capri Garlick, Libby Hernandez and Micella Grano.
Coming strong off the bench to contribute to the win were Bianca Cardoza and Serena Arenas.
The intensity with which these young ladies play makes it easy to forget that they are in middle school.
Read more...Piñon Field sale sought
OKLAHOMA CITY – SandRidge Energy announced this week it is currently in negotiations to sell its midstream
assets located in the Piñon Field north of Marathon.
The announcement came in an “update” on the company’s daily production rates and
hedging activities.
The proposed sale plans were “based on preliminary indications of interest,” SandRidge said.
“The company expects to consummate a sale of its midstream assets in the Piñon Field in the second quarter of 2009,” a SandRidge release said. “This transaction is valued at approximately $500 million from a combination of net cash proceeds and reduction in midstream capital expenditures.”
Read more...US bill targets gun running
WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan bill introduced in both houses of Congress this week by area Congressional representatives would be aimed at reducing border violence by cracking down on illegal gunrunning.
Democrat US Rep. Ciro Rodriguez of Texas and Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico joined Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas in introducing matching legislation.
The
bill follows up on funding pushed by the same group of people that was included in the Merida initiative in 2008 and would extend
the funding through 2011.
“We must continue our work to stop the violence on both sides of the border,” Rodriguez said. “We have made some progress in stopping the ruthless drug cartels but illegal trafficking of guns into Mexico continues and we are a long way from keeping people along the border as safe as they deserve to be.”
Read more...Church to host Winter Bible Study
MARATHON – Marathon Baptist Church will host a Winter Bible Study beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan.
18, in the church fellowship hall.
A meal will be provided each week prior to the study. There is no charge for either the Bible
study or the meal but those planning to partake of the meal are asked to RSVP to Steve or Arlene Griffis at 386-4695 each week of
the study so they will know how many to prepare for.
This week’s meal will be baked potatoes with all the fixin’s.
The Winter Bible Study will feature a series of DVDs entitled “Bedrock Beliefs” featuring Dr. T. Michael Toby, pastor of First Baptist Woodway in Waco.
Read more...Movie explores Mata Ortiz pottery
ALPINE – A movie will be shown here Thursday, Jan. 22, about the Mata Ortiz pottery from northern
Chihuahua.
In the early 1970s, an anthropologist called Spencer McCallum bought three unusual pots in a junk shop in Deming, NM.
As he drove to California, he became intrigued then excited by the originality and quality of the pots.
Later, he was able to trace the pots to a village in northern Chihuahua called Mata Ortiz. They had been exchanged for used clothing in the junk shop.
Read more...Fort Friends elect new officers
SHEFFIELD – Bill Stone of Midland was elected president of the Friends of Fort Lancaster at its annual
meeting Saturday night at the fort.
Hugh Childress of Ozona was elected vice president and Pam Crenwelge of Ozona is secretary/treasurer.
The
group will represent Fort Lancaster at five two-day events around the state including at Fort McKavett, Fort Griffin, Fort Clark,
Fort Concho and Fort Chadbourn.
They will also be represented at many shorter events including the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Parade, Sutton County and Davy Crockett Days in Ozona.
Read more...Bridge replacement planned
FORT STOCKTON - Demolition will begin Monday, 26, on the Comanche Creek bridge on US 285 on the city’s southeast
side near county-owned James A. Rooney Park.
The Texas Department of Transportation said in a news release this week the bridge will be constructed in half-widths so that traffic can continue to use the roadway, with a concrete traffic barrier separating the construction from the remaining travel lanes.
Two-way traffic in 10-foot lanes with a single lane in each direction will be permitted and a 45-mile per hour speed limit will be posted in the construction zone.
Read more...Tourney aids ill baby
VAN HORN – US Border Patrol agents from throughout West Texas, including eight from Sanderson, participated in
a benefit basketball tournament here Saturday.
The event raised more than $1,900 for the family of a Marfa agent.
Supervisory Agent Tom Hyatt and his wife have been seeking medical treatment for their infant son Emmett, who was born recently with a heart defect.
Hyatt is assigned to the Marfa Sector but is currently working at headquarters, also at Marfa.
Read more...By ARLENE GRIFFIS
Library Friend
MARATHON – During the Christmas holidays, my entire family visited my brother’s family in Waco.
My daughter Casey,
who is a nurse in Amarillo, went to Target one day with my niece and when she came back she showed me two books that she had bought
on sale there.
Now Casey just graduated from West Texas A&M last May and then had to immediately start studying for her state
boards, which she passed in the fall, so it has been a long time since she has had time to do any reading for pleasure.
I was glad to see that she was planning to do so.
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
WINDS OF THE WEST – Mark Upshaw posed by a new Skystream windmill he installed at the home of his sister-in-law’s home in Alpine.
By generating energy, the family hopes to see a significant reduction in their electric bills.
By ARLENE GRIFFIS
Marathon Editor
ALPINE – There were 65 army airfields, 35 army posts, nine naval installations and more than 70 prisoner-of-war
camps located in the state, many in West Texas in World War II. In addition, there were 136 auxiliary army airfields.
This was just one of many interesting tidbits from a free oral history workshop by the Texas Historical Commission in conjunction with the Brewster County Historical Commission and the Museum of the Big Bend here Saturday.
It was one of a series taking place across the state, which highlights the real places telling the real stories of Texas’ involvement in World War II.
Read more...HISTORIC LINEUP – Participants in last week’s oral history workshop were, from left, Matt Walter, curator of exhibits and cartographic
collection at Museum of the Big Bend; Travis Roberts, chairman of the Brewster County Historical Society; JoAnn Pospisil, archives
director for Baylor College of Medicine, and William McWhorter, a historian with the Texas Historical Commission.
IN THE HUNT – Tony Calzada of Sanderson was the winner of a drawing by Cactus Health Services, Inc. Cactus CEO Teresa Smith presented
him with his award. Calzada wins his choice of a deer hunt or a ride in Steve Forest’s Robinson R-44 four-place helicopter.
MARATHON – The students in Bertha Arriola’s middle school language arts classes have been reading “Meet Samantha: an American Girl”
by Susan S. Adler.
Alpine Public Library Director Anitra Clausen provided the books by a grant to the Alpine Library and its Marathon
branch from “Roads to Reading for Kids.”
All middle school students were given a book but the fifth and sixth graders were the first
to complete the project.
The grant requires that each student read the book and write a short review of it.
Marathon Librarian Carol Townsend and Friends of the Marathon Library President Arlene Griffis made the “American Girl” project a joint effort between the library and the school.
Read more...YOUNG READERS – Members of Bertha Arriola’s middle school language arts classes have been reading “Meet Samantha: An American Girl.”
They were, front from left, Capri Garlick, Bianca Cardoza and Sarah Arenas. In back from left, were Alexis Bowers and Gage Williams.
