HELLO – Natalie Lopez, second from left, listened to a recorded message at the Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center in Langtry last week.
Looking on, from left, were Gracie Rodriguez, Noah Rodriguez and Adrian Arredondo. See story, below.
SANDERSON – By the time most people read these words, it will be all over – except the most exciting part.
The Big Bend Open Road Race
blasts off from Fort Stockton at 8 a.m. tomorrow, bringing some 162 race cars here and back, each in pursuit of a trophy and bragging
rights.
For a dozen years, people have come from far and wide, bringing everything from Volkswagons and minivans to antique cars to
the latest in high-tech racing machines to test their driving skills on a 59-mile stretch of US Highway 285.
Most are in a class in
which they attempt to come as close to their specified speed as they can, from 85 to 150 miles per hour.
A few – three this year –
will be in an “unlimited” class, seeing how fast they can go, chasing a record of 172.584 mph set by Mike and Marsha Borders of Las
Vegas, NV, in 2007.
For a dozen years, the annual event has brought teams of drivers, navigators and crews to the area for what has
been billed as one of the last great road races left and one of the most challenging.
US Highway 285 will be closed between here and Fort Stockton at 6 a.m. tomorrow and nominally remains closed until 5 p.m., though crews usually re-open it soon after the
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
SJHS bowls over Quiz Bowl
QUIZ KIDS – Sanderson Junior High Students placed fourth competing against much larger 5A school districts at the Texas Quiz Bowl
in San Antonio last weekend. Shown, from left, were Megan Seidel, Daniel Luevano, Kayla Fuéntez and Jalen Chriesman.
SAN ANTONIO – Sanderson Junior High students faced some big-school competition and held their own at the Regional Texas Quiz Bowl
here last weekend.
Eight teams competed in the quiz bowl. The Sanderson team placed fourth overall.
Read more...
Plant rumors ‘false’
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rumors that SandRidge Energy planned to close or phase down work on the “Century Plant” 37 miles
north of Sanderson are “totally false,” a SandRidge spokesman said Tuesday.
Senior Vice President for Business Development Kevin White told the News Leader “several hundred people” are working on “Train One” at the plant, a joint venture with Oxy Petroleum of Los Angeles.
Read more...
Manners class 101
District tennis champs
By ANNA La FLEUR
Production Manager
SANDERSON – Both girls and boys Sanderson High School varsity tennis teams
are district champions and qualified for regionals this week.
The boy’s track team was runner up at area and also will go to regional qualifiers.
Read more...
By MARK GLOVER
Contributing Editor
ALPINE - Tresa Mois’ son Michael was four when she explained to him she had cancer.
“That was the
hardest thing,” Mois said sitting in the shade at Talgar’s here.
“’Baby, Mommy’s sick and has to go away for a while,” she told him.
Read more...
SANDERSON – The Terrell County School Board Monday approved – for the second time – an agreement to give the old High School building
to the county for office expansion.
“We voted to give the school to the county in 2007 and they didn’t take up the offer at that time,”
School Board President Ada Lee Robbins said. “We authorized the agreement again [Monday] to give the school to the county but we want
to keep the auditorium.”
Read more...
Cavness ‘outstanding student’
ALPINE – April J. Cavness of Marathon was named outstanding psychology student in an awards ceremony
at Sul Ross State University that also named the school’s university man and woman of the year.
Monte Piper of Sugar Land was named outstanding man and Addie Bencomo of Fort Davis was the outstanding woman at the annual Honors Convocation Monday in Marshall Auditorium.
Read more...
SANDERSON – Project Graduation got some tasty boosts this week with a pancake breakfast at the Legion Hall on Sunday and burritos
for participants at the Big Bend Open Road Race Wednesday and Thursday.
The goodies were to raise money for the all-night, chemical free party for graduating seniors on graduation night.
Read more...
Hearing offers new word
By BOB VARMETTE
Fort Stockton Pioneer
Reproduced with permission
FORT STOCKTON – The word for the day is "justiciable."
Merriam
Webster defines the word as "capable of being decided by legal principles or by a court of justice."
According to the Middle Pecos Groundwater Conservation District Board of Directors, it means you get to be a part of the process of determining whether the production permit for Fort Stockton Holdings is approved.
Read more...
Curry gets ‘vote of confidence’
SANDERSON – The Airport Board this week voted to keep Airport Manager C.D. Curry as a voting member
of the board.
Chairman Jim Street said some had questioned whether Curry, as a county employee, should be a voting member of the board or whether he should be an ex-officio – or non-voting member.
Read more...
SANDERSON – The dinner and a movie at First Calvary Baptist Church was a considered a hit last week.
“It was awesome just awesome,” said Julianna Larrinaga.
Read more...
DRYDEN – The Nature Conservancy of Texas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will host a Kid Fish Event Saturday, May 1, at
Independence Creek Preserve near here.
The event is free and open to kids in Sanderson and the surrounding area from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children from kindergarten through eighth grade are encouraged to participate.
Read more...
Pool gets lifeguards
SANDERSON – Three weeks ago, the News Leader warned that unless the county could find some more lifeguards, the
swimming pool at Bicentennial Park could be severely limited in its hours.
At the time, only two people had responded to a call for lifeguards. But that has changed.
Read more...
Creek action mulled
HOUSTON – The families affected by Independence Creek Road in east Terrell County were still “assessing our options”
on county maintenance of the six-mile dirt road at press time this week.
Attorney Maureen Singleton said she still needs to meet with attorney Bob Bass, who represents the county on the issue, before making a decision.
Read more...
SANDERSON – Texas Pecos Trail Region Executive Director Scott Jordan of Sonora met with a small group of Sanderson volunteers Friday
to discuss possible sites for viewing native birds.
He said birding sites can bring in a set of “eco-tourists,” visitors who travel
around the country to see different species of birds or other aspects of nature.
“If you can find two or three sites, you should figure
prominently on the birding map,” he said. “Only a few areas will have sites and, at best, it will be only one.”
The Texas Historical
Commission plans to create maps with “loops” containing several birding sites that can be visited in one trip.
One region would be
primarily west of the Pecos River, although Fort Lancaster just east of Sheffield could be included in a loop that would take in Sanderson,
Dryden and Sheffield.
High school transfer approved
IT ROCKS – A large stone was set in place this week in front of the new Sanderson High School wing nearing completion under a $14
million school bond issue. Albert Thorn manned the forklift while Sheri Thorn and Vocational Education Teacher Jon Tom Lowrance, among
others, guided it in. The rock will display an Eagle and “Home of the Eagles” to mark the new classrooms.
Mom gets another lap for life
WALK FOR LIFE – Tresa Mois’ and her son Michael took a walk in the “Survivors Lap” at the Relay for Life recently in Alpine. Tresa
is battling small-cell lung cancer. She has been cancer free for a year but still goes for monthly checkups.
Teens host ‘project pancakes’
Photo by Teresa Brotherton
YOUR BURRITO, SIR – Sanderson High School seniors served up breakfast burritos for participants in the Big
Bend Open Road Race this week. Serving, from left, were Clarissa Brotherton, Jacob Benavidez, David Shoemaker and Chris Marquez.
Kid Fish Day planned
DESERT OASIS – The Oasis Ranch on Independence Creek is really an oasis in the desert. The Texas Nature Conservancy and the state
Parks and Wildlife Department will host a Kid Fish Event at the park Saturday, May 1.
‘Indescribable’ movie seen
‘INDESCRIBABLE’ – Some movie goers took time to clown for the camera last week at the showing of the first in a Passion series at
First Calvary Baptist Church. Shown, from left, were Christy Sanchez, Sharon Hamilton, Vanessa Carter and Ariel Bovat. In front was
Charles Williams.
Places for ‘birding’ sought
CARDINAL RULE – The bright red cardinal is one of the species of birds that sometimes frequent Terrell County. The Texas Historical
Commission plans a series of “birding” maps showing sites where birds can be spotted. “Birding” is a class of “eco-tourism” that can
bring visitors to the area.
COURTHOUSE PARKING – The Terrell County Courthouse parking lot was filled with new and old racing machines this week, signing in for
the Big Bend Open Road Race to be run tomorrow. The number 89 will never be seen again in the race. It belonged to Bud Powers, a longtime
participant who died in October. His 1970 Chevrolet El Camino will run this year with son Mike at the wheel. The number, which always
matched Bud’s age, has been retired.
DEL RIO – A group of kids in Sanderson Elementary School’s kindergarten and first grade classes went 120 miles for lunch and to show
off their manners last week.
Funded by a grant from the Piñon Foundation, the 22 students came here for lunch and returned home via the Judge Roy Bean Center in Langtry.
Read more...
LINEUP – Some expensive machines lined up around the Terrell County Courthouse last year at the turnaround for the Big Bend Open Road
Race. A total of 162 drivers will race from Fort Stockton to Sanderson tomorrow morning, April 24, turn around here and race back
that afternoon.
GIRL OF SUMMER – If she makes the team, Tiffany Brooks could be the first woman professional baseball player in this century. She
has signed with Alpine’s Big Bend Cowboys of the Continental League and hopes to be in uniform for the team’s opening game May 6 at
Kokernot Field.
