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P. O. BOX 99
SANDERSON, TX 79848
(432) 345-2676
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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
FAÇADE – It’s not a movie set and it didn’t last long. Albert and Sheri Thorn were contracted to demolish the old Cantina el Gavilan and the adjacent adobe huts this week. The First Calvary Baptist Church bought the historic structures to make room for a future sanctuary.
SANDERSON – Tomorrow starts a new year here and across the nation – and the world, for that matter. And, like all new years, a number
of new and/or amended laws will be on the books.
Changes in health insurance will occur, some each year, as different measures under
the controversial “Obamacare” law take effect until it is fully implemented in 2014, unless repealed earlier.
Repeal is a prime goal
of the new Republican majority in the US House.
People this year will no longer be able to use flexible spending accounts or health
savings accounts to pay for over-the-counter drugs, though they still can use cash.
One media report said they had to be sold by prescription
but our pharmacist assured us that is not the case.
There was a lot of controversy this week over alleged “death panels” in the law.
Such wording in the Obamacare law was taken out
Read more...
County Fair set Jan. 22
SANDERSON – January, which starts tomorrow, is the launch of the social calendar in Terrell County and it always
starts off with one of the biggest red-letter days of the year, the county fair. The 32nd Annual Terrell County Fair will be Saturday,
Jan. 22.
The office of county extension agent is vacant after the resignation of Mark Carroll, who accepted a job in Floydada earlier
this year.
By ANNA La FLEUR
Production Manager
SANDERSON – The Cantina el Gavilan, an iconic landmark here, was demolished this week by the new
owner, the First Cavalry Baptist Church, which purchased the property earlier this year.
Many residents voiced outrage when the news
spread of the destruction of historical building after the initial shock of the church’s purchase of the building and the adjacent
small adobe huts.
SANDERSON – Aurora Abrigo will close her Aurora’s Market today after some 30 years of providing the town with food and other items.
She
is not leaving town and will start working at the upcoming Sanderson Grocery as soon as she returns from visiting her family.
Christmas visitors aadd fun to holiday
SANDERSON – Sam & Marisa Tellez had a houseful of visitors for Christmas.
Marisa’s aunt and
uncle Lali & Carlos Munoz of Austin came for Christmas at the Tellez home.
SANDERSON – The first annual Big Buck Contest here is scheduled to end Monday, Jan. 3, after white tail deer season ends Sunday.
Randy
Stolte of Del Rio, father of Sanderson Wildlife Biologist Austin Stolte, is in the lead in the adult division for the white tail he
shot on the Harkin’s Ranch.
By ANNA La FLEUR
Production Manager
PRESIDIO – A total of 46 desert bighorn sheep bolted out of transport trailers and straight up into
the Bofecillos Mountains along the Rio Grande near here before Christmas.
The 34 ewes and 12 rams were captured at Elephant Mountain
Wildlife Management Area near Alpine and moved to Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Wildlife Trail book due soon
AUSTIN – Some of Texas’ natural history and iconic wildlife can be found at sites featured on the “Far
West Texas Wildlife Trail,” whose debut this month completes a statewide wildlife trail system launched 15 years ago to bolster birding
and other forms of nature tourism.
The system’s ninth and final trail spans the vast reaches of West Texas, from El Paso to the Permian
Basin to the Big Bend and features ten driving loops and 57 sites.
Airport mark to mark 100 years
ALPINE – The year 2011 beginning tomorrow is 100th anniversary of the Casparis Airport here, possibly
the oldest airport in the state of Texas.
Documents at the archives at Sul Ross State University here indicate that Casparis began
operating in 1911.
Certainly, organized “airports” as we know them now did not exist in the early days of aviation. Most aircraft
operations took place on grass fields that also were used for other purposes.
‘MOU’ aimed at conservation in BB
BIG BEND – Three US agencies and the Texas Parks Department have signed a “Memorandum of Understanding”
on conservation projects in the Big Bend Region of the Chihuahuan Desert.
The US agencies, all within the Department of the Interior,
include the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Geological Survey and the National Park Service.
They and the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department signed the MOU this fall establishing the Big Bend Conservation Cooperative.
Heritage grants offered
SONORA – The Texas Historical Commission reported last week it is offering a round of Heritage Tourism Partnership
Grants for communities in the Texas Pecos Trail Region.
A total of $30,000 is available to the heritage region. Individual grants
of at least $5,000 require a one-to-one matching contribution.
By BUDDY GOUGH
Nature Conservancy of Texas
SAN ANTONIO – Residents of East Texas didn’t have to know anything about invasive species
to recognize red imported fire ants as bad news when they began showing up in the 1950s.
Country kids running barefoot and carefree
were among the first to suffer from the invasion of aggressive South American ants whose stinging bites brought pain followed by infected
pustules.
CRUNCH TIME – A backhoe operated by Albert and Sheri Thorn made quick work of a small adobe hut next to the Cantina el Gavilan this week. The bar and adjacent huts were removed by the new owner to make room for a sanctuary for First Cavalry Baptist Church.
MOVING MARKET – Aurora Abrigo posed for a picture this week in front of her Aurora’s Market on Oak Street. She plans to close the
market this week and, after a visit with family, will start work at the proposed Sanderson Grocery in the old El Charro building at
Oak and Third after she returns.
Big Buck contest to end
GET A HEAD – The head of a deer shot by Randy Stolte of Del Rio was displayed this week. Stolte, father of Sanderson Game Biologist Austin Stolte, is a leader in the adult white tail division of the first annual Big Buck Contest. White tail season ends Sunday and the contest deadline is Monday.
HEADS UP – Some deer skulls were displayed on the hood of a pickup this week. They were entered in the Terrell County Big Buck Contest, which ends Monday. The first annual affair started small with four categories but it is expected to grow in future years.
Hunting closure mulled
AUSTIN – Because of a reduction in the number of turkeys harvested in some East Texas counties, the Texas Department
of Parks and Wildlife is considering closing hunting in some counties and a regulation change that would delay the spring eastern
turkey season in the remaining counties by two weeks.
NEW HOME – A desert bighorn sheep paused for a Texas Parks and Wildlife photographer shortly after being released in the Bofecillos
Mountains at Big Bend Ranch State Park recently. The 29 animals were captured at Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area near Alpine
and transferred to the park near Presidio.
STRIKE UP THE BAND – The 1931-32 Sanderson High School Band was shown in this picture from the Terrell County Museum, courtesy of
the Ray Clifford Collection. Note the simple uniforms of the times for the all-boy band. Director Cammack is at the extreme right
in the suit and at the extreme upper right, out of uniform and with a saxophone is Windy Farley, who would eventually become the husband
of Margaret Farley. If you can identify the others, contact Bill Smith at the Terrell County Memorial Museum at 432-345-2936.
EAGLE WINGS – Lady Eagle Kayla Fuéntez seemed to really have wings of an Eagle in this picture provided by Terrell County ISD. Teammate Juliana Castro had just finished passing the ball in the game with Fort Hancock at the Sanderson Tourney this month.
ALL QUIET – Not a creature was stirring, not even a backhoe. The site of the new Terrell County Convention Center was idle this week
during the holiday but look for a lot of activity soon. Architect Justin Gilmore said IAM Construction of Plano is expected to complete
the $1.3 million facility by next summer.
STOCKING STUFFER – Christina Valles won an overgrown Christmas stocking last week from Cactus Health Services, Inc. The CHSI Sanderson
Clinic had a drawing for the prize, which includes toys for boys and girls. Valles will be able to use the toys for her grandkids.
SANTA’S PONY – Santa Claus, aka Jennifer Miller, cruised around town on Gary Hutto’s horse when he (she?) wasn’t busy delivering gifts
over Christmas. We assume he had to park his sleigh because all the snow was in the northeast this year.
BAD NEWS – Red imported fire ants not only are bad news for kids walking barefoot. They are destructive to ground bird species like
the bobwhite quail as well as alligators, snakes, turtles and tortoises and are known for killing off many native insects important
to the survival of young birds.
SANTA DOG – Jennifer Miller of Sanderson, all dressed up as Santa Claus, greeted her pet dog Camie for Christmas. Looking on was Bo Jangles, the “Wonder Dog.” Miller cruised around town on horseback on Christmas Eve, helping the real Santa with his chores.
HITCHIN’ A RIDE – Dave Keeling of Pearl, MS, hitchhiked through Sanderson on his way to Corpus Christi this week. He made his way
down to Big Bend where he sought employment and stayed for four days before heading east through Sanderson.