Photo by Jennifer Killin, Del Rio News Herald
DEATH SCENE – A late-model Freightliner was totally destroyed when it struck a passing
boat trailer and plunged into Lake Amistad near Del Rio Sunday. Robert Guadalajara Garza, 39, of Eagle Pass was killed in the accident.
The driver, Victor Soza, 41, of Quemado was seriously injured.
FORT STOCKTON – What has been billed as the “most challenging road race in the world” lived up to its reputation on the 13th running
of the Big Bend Open Road Race Saturday.
“The 13th is now behind us,” Race Coordinator Kenda Furman quipped.
“We had a hard time trying
to round up the cows,” Race Director Randy Archer told race crews assembled for the annual awards banquet here Saturday night.
There
were at least two blow-outs and one race car went through a fence, letting cows stray onto US Highway 285 while the race was under
way.
Another blowout left debris on the highway. No one was injured in any of the incidents.
At the banquet, number 89 was retired.
It was the number that always matched the age long-time driver Bud Powers of Alpine, who died in October.
“Bud was the man,” Archer
said. “He was looking down on us and sent all the cows he could throw at us, just to keep us on our toes.”
Archer said the first leg
of the race from here to Sanderson Saturday went without incident. But the return trip was marred with several shut downs, with drivers
dodging “deer, buzzards, turkeys and even dogs.”
The race was stopped several times for animals in the road and other problems and
was late finishing.
“That was only the second time in the race’s history we have used the red flag,” Furman told the News Leader.
A red flag indicates drivers should stop. A yellow indicates caution and drivers can proceed at a reduced rate of speed.
“The bottom
line is that it was safe,” she said. “That’s the reason for the red flag, to keep everyone safe.”
Archer said drivers who were unable to complete the race for no fault of their own would still qualify, using their time on the first leg.
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
Kim Rapp in new home
START YOUR ENGINES – Sonya Keyser was ready to race last week in a car at Sanderson Elementary School. Crews from the Big Bend Open
Road Race go to the school on Thursday before the Saturday race day in an event that has become as popular with the crews as it is
for the kids – if not more so.
Truck goes into lake, one dead
By ANNA La FLEUR
Production Manager
DEL RIO – One person was killed and two others injured early Sunday
when an 18-wheel truck plunged off the US Highway 90 bridge over Lake Amistad northeast of here and dropped 60 feet into the lake.
The accident seriously injured the driver and killed his co-driver who was in the sleep-er behind the cab.
Read more...
By KIM RAPP
Former Production Manager
HOBBS, NM – A lot of people said I would never leave. Well, now I'm gone.
I knew I would
miss the town where I raised my three children, Bobbi, Daniel and Jimmy, but I didn't realize how much until I returned for my first
visit.
Read more...
By MARK GLOVER
Contributing Editor
SANDERSON - Bud Powers finally rode his last race Saturday.
His cremated ashes were stitched into
a Wile E. Coyote doll, slumped on the dashboard just above the steering wheel of his canary yellow 1970 El Camino race car.
Some ‘big shoes’ left to fill
By ANNA La FLEUR
Production Manager
SANDERSON – There was a big change in the staff at the Terrell County
News Leader recently.
Most readers probably already read in our paper that Kim Rapp was moving to Hobbs to be with her family.
Read more...
SANDERSON – Kelly Lomas was inducted into the National Honor Society in a ceremony Sunday in the Sanderson High School Auditorium.
Margaret Farley and Virginia Garza were the sponsors of the event. Ernestina Gonzalez led the crowd in the pledge of allegiance and the Texas pledge.
Read more...
Travis wins at regional
LUBBOCK – Travis Roberts placed first in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:27.56 and the 3,200–meter run
with a time of 9:54.22 as Sanderson High School track competed at Texas Tech University for regional qualifiers last week.
Read more...
One killed in rollover
FORT STOCKTON – A 34-year-old Austin woman was killed in a one-vehicle rollover 14 miles east of here Sunday
evening.
‘Passion’ Series continues
By ANNA La FLEUR
Production Manager
SANDERSON – The second in a series of “Passion” shows was Sunday at First
Calvary Baptist Church.
The series of four movies by Louie Giglio in his Passion Series is after a 6 p.m. dinner each Sunday at the church.
Read more...
NRCS marks 75th birthday
TEMPLE – The US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service turned 75 Tuesday.
Read more...
Nine nabbed in pot bust
SANDERSON – Nine men were apprehended south of here last week, carrying 529.2 pounds of marijuana.
Assault victim dies, man held
FORT STOCKTON – Jennifer Lynne Christian, 33, died at Odessa Medical Center here last week after being
attacked by her boyfriend earlier this month.
By JEFF ALEXANDER
Special to the News Leader
SANDERSON – A snake's-eye view along US Highway 285. That was the scene just as I walked
across the state line from Texas toward Roswell, NM.
So what was it about Sanderson that stood out from all the other towns along a journey of 1,000 walking miles that was special enough for me to give it a whirl for a little while as I prepare, anticipate, seek the path for the next journey?
Read more...
ODESSA – Sanderson Elementary fourth grader Jacob Luevano will compete in the Area 18 Special Olympics at the Ratliff Stadium here
tomorrow, May 1.
Read more...
TxDOT offers summer jobs
AUSTIN - The Texas Department of Transportation is looking for workers to fill summer jobs for maintenance,
engineering and technical positions.
Read more...
TOP CARS – Three cars competed in the “unlimited” class at the Big Bend Open Road Race this year. First place went to Tom Whalen of
Frisco and his 2002 Corvette. Second was John Tiemann and Cathy Cody of Austin in their 1969 Ford GT40 and Charlie Friend’s 1965 Corvair
came in third.
BYE FOR NOW – Kim and Robert Rapp waved goodbye from the front door of their Sanderson home on Pine Street shortly before leaving
for Hobbs, NM. Kim was production manager for the News Leader and became an integral part of the staff. She said she’ll be back often.
Race crews visit school
NUMBER GONE – Number 89 will no longer be available for cars in the Big Bend Open Road Race. Bud Powers’ number was retired Saturday
after the 13th running of the race. He died in October. Posing with the framed number were family members, from left, daughter Linda
Murray, daughter-in-law Frieda Powers, son Mike Powers, granddaughter Lee Ann Powers and daughter Janey Bradley.
Powers ‘rides’ in last race
TALL PROJECT – Two-way traffic has resumed after a two-year project that narrowed the Pecos River Bridge on US Highway 90 115 miles
east of Sanderson for two years. Signal lights and barricades limited traffic to one way at a time over the bridge that stands 270
feet above the river.
High bridge reopens
HONORED – Sanderson High School inducted Kelly Lomas into the National Honor Society Sunday. Later, he posed with guardians, Faye
Espinosa, left, and Amelia Lomas-Phelps.
Kelly welcomed into society
LONG WALK – Jeff Alexander was spotted just south of Fort Stockton recently, walking from Sanderson to Roswell, NM. He walked from
his home at Madison, WI, to Sanderson, pulling his little red wagon. After making it to Roswell, he caught a ride and is back in Sanderson.
Walker gets ‘snake-eye view’
COMMUNION – Analise Rubio received her First Holy Communion last week. Her sponsor was her aunt, Diana Escamilla. Analise
is the daughter of Rene and Laura Rubio of Sanderson. She is in second grade at Sanderson Elementary School.
CHANGE OF THE GUARD – Donna Muñiz, right, was named the new assistant Sanderson volunteer coordinator for the Big Bend Open Road Race
replacing Dorothy Marquart, center. The announcement was made by Volunteer Coordinator Dale Carruthers.
COLORFUL KIDS – Sanderson Elementary Students colored pictures for racers at the Big Bend Open Road Race last week. And the winners
were, from left, Rachel Serena for most colorful, Kira Smith for most detailed and Sean Lopez for most creative.
Market group meets
By ANNA La FLEUR
Production Manager
SANDERSON – Fall is getting closer and the Nopalito Market Committee met yesterday
to get a little closer to our fall deadline.
No date has been set but we have agreed to try for a weekend this
Read more...
GOLD-MEDAL KID – Sanderson Elementary School fourth grader Jacob Luevano sat in a race car being shown to school kids last week before
the Big Bend Open Road Race. Jacob has been chosen for the second year to participate in the Area 18 Special Olympics in Odessa where
he won a gold medal last year. Jacob, who has Down Syndrome, was the first to ever represent Sanderson at the games.
Jacob to compete again
Texas in bloom
AUSTIN – Spring is the time for wildflowers and Texas boasts its share this year.
Fall and winter rains have generated a lot of wildflower germination and establishment and this year's crop should be very abundant statewide.
Read more...
Vamos a la España
SANDERSON – The Sanderson High School Spanish Club has finished raising money needed for its long-awaited trip to
Spain. Some fund raisers are still taking in spending money.
Read more...
It’s ‘No Phone Zone Day’
AUSTIN — Motorists across Texas and other states will see a new safety message on highway signs around the
state today, a message that encourages citizens to pay attention and eliminate distractions while driving.
Read more...
Food and wine festival set
SAN ANGELO – The 26th annual San Angelo wine and food festival will be this weekend here.
Read more...
Travis Roberts honored
HOUSTON — The Texas Historical Commission has recognized J. Travis Roberts, Jr., of Marathon with the George
Christian Volunteer of the Year Award.
Newcomer gets visitor
By ANNA La FLEUR
Production Manager
SANDERSON – Andy Tiegs visited new local resident Jeff Alexander, whom we featured
in an earlier Chat column, “Population up by five,” News Leader, April 9, Page 10.
Read more...
Attention turns to bikers
SANDERSON – With the sound of race cars still fresh on people’s minds, attention here turned to their two-wheel
cousins this weekend.
Read more...
MOVING DAY – Sanderson High School seniors Jacob Benavidez, left, and Darren Seidel were part of a moving-day crew this week. While
their younger classmates struggled with TAKS tests, the seniors moved furniture and equipment from the old high school building to
the new classrooms, provided by a May, 2007, $14 million bond issue.
COLLEGE PREP – Sanderson High School senior Angelina Hopkins washed windshields of race cars Saturday to earn money for college. She
plans to attend the University of California at San Diego next year. Students have washed windshields for community projects in the
past but this year, they were allowed to keep what they earned.
July 4 to be July 3 this year
SANDERSON – The Sanderson Chamber of Commerce has officially set the date of the July 4 celebration here
at Saturday, July 3.
Terrell County Commissioners have asked the chamber to decide the date for the meeting each year. It is always on a Saturday closest to the national holiday.
Read more...
SANDERSON – The Big Bend Open Road Race, an event that bills itself as “the most challenging open road race in the world,” gave students
at the elementary school here a glimpse into the action in the school’s parking lot last week.
Read more...
SIGN HERE – Larry Robinson of Odessa was one of many drivers to sign a shirt to be auctioned off for Project Graduation in Sanderson
Saturday. Looking on were Taryn Mitchell and Katie Roberts. Robinson drove his 2000 Dodge Viper to second place in the 150-mile-per-hour
category.
DEL RIO – The US Highway 90 Pecos River Bridge 45 miles northeast of here will officially open after being reduced to one lane for
repairs more than two years ago.
Read more...
