February 29, 2008

Road Race back on track

FORT STOCKTON – The Big Bend Open Road Race between here and Sanderson is back on track and will be run on its scheduled dates of April 23 to 26 with the actual race on Saturday, April 26. That was the announcement Tuesday night after a long and sometimes-contentious meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Also announced was the appointment of Jim Ivy, a member of the board of the Fort Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau, to the three-member board that oversees the non-profit organization created to run the race. The announcement appeared to answer what threatened to be a major sticking point. Terrell County Judge Leo Smith, chairman of the race board, objected to “negative” comments that had been posted on the race’s website. “One of the things that has to change is the attitude of some of the racers on the web site,” Smith told the Chamber Board discussing re-instituting the race. “They have trashed all of the leaders,” Smith said. “They are not welcome in my community.” Smith wanted to disqualify any racer making negative comments on the web site’s message board. “I disagree,” Race Director Randy Archer said. “Over the past years, I have been called a lot of things. A lot of this is just anger and frustration.” Chamber Board President Glenda Pasqua had requested the meeting stay “positive” and not go into past disagreements. “If there are differences, we need to just sweep them under the carpet and start over,” Board Member Leticia Slater said. Archer and Race Coordinator Kenda Furman both told the board they thought they could have the race by the April date. They indicated they might not know for sure until today or, perhaps Monday, because there were at least two people that needed to be consulted. But Furman and Archer then retired to a closed-door meeting with the race board, presumably contacting the other safety workers. It was Smith who emerged from that meeting and told reporters the race would happen on April 23 to 26 and “everything is forgiven.” Smith said past indiscretions would be overlooked “in the interest of the community.” It was next to impossible to determine exactly what caused the rift that led to the announcement last week that the race had been canceled. Nearly everyone contacted by the News Leader and other media outlets seemed to blame each other and most of the comments were made “off the record.” The problem seemed to stem from confusion over who was responsible for the race when Furman left the city and went to work for Pecos County State Bank, saying she was “taking the race” with her. Some thought the bank was then “sponsor” of the race. Bank President George Hansard told the board the bank supports Furman in her race activities but the bank is not the sponsor of the race. He said the bank underwrote credit cards for the race committee and wants the race because it is good for the community and good for the bank’s customers. “But we do not make any money on it,” he said. “We are really trying to make it happen,” CVB Board Vice Chairman Dwayne Bonham said. ‘One Ranger’ signs books By R.M. GLOVER MNL Editor ALPINE – Former Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson got down and dirty with some of the most notorious criminals of Texas, including the sado-masochist Henry Lee Lucas and his necrophiliac partner Ottis Toole. Jackson discussed his new book, “One Ranger Returns,” at Front Street Books here Friday night. Lucas and Toole united in homosexuality and claimed to have killed more than 200 people, including Lupita Gonzalez, a mother of two from Uvalde. Jackson who feared too many law enforcement officers were happy to get half-baked confessions for unsolved murders from the duo, interrogated both of them and concluded indeed they were the Gonzalez murderers. This story and more come alive in the new book, presenting readers with pure mean and vicious killers as well as conflicted characters like Tom Bybee, a bootlegger who never drank, never sold to minors or drunks and ran his business in a straight ethical format until one day when he chopped a man’s head off with a double bit axe. In his talk Friday night Jackson gave much praise to his wife Shirley, who acknowledged him often as well as offered her own side notes from the seats. The two are a well-honed pair and immensely entertaining. Shirley, a former country and western singer, also writes a chapter in the book called “Stand By Your Ranger.” Jackson also praised his co-writer James L Haley and his former co-writer David Wilkenson on the first book, “One Ranger.” Jeanne Hardy, owner of Front Street Books here and in Marathon, said Jackson’s newest collection of tales is the fastest-selling book in the store’s 14-year history. Back Chamber backs April Road Race SANDERSON – The Sanderson Chamber of Commerce Monday unanimously adopted a resolution urging a continuation of the Big Bend Open Road Race between Fort Stockton and Sanderson, scheduled for April 23 to 26. There were reports last week that the race was canceled, that everyone directly involved had resigned. Then Tuesday, it was announced the race is back on for the April dates. How much affect, if any, the chamber resolution had was not known because the discussion was behind closed doors. The resolution notes the race “is a major event on the amateur automobile racing calendar throughout the United States” and “has brought widespread recognition to Sanderson, Fort Stockton, Terrell County and the rest of our region.” The race brings tourism dollars to the region and “is a favorite among race fans around the country, some even calling it the ‘best road race in the world,’” the resolution says. “Race car drivers, crews and fans alike have already planned vacation time and spent money for entry fees, hotel reservations, travel plans and other expenses,” it says. The resolution asks “all parties involve in the planning and operation of the race to put aside differences and work together to make it happen by April 23, 2008.” The chamber also discussed plans for a “walking and driving tour” of attractions around Sanderson and Terrell County. Member Henry Beth Hogg submitted a list of 35 potential agenda items for a tour and other members suggested others. Items on the list include historic sites, churches, parks, cemeteries, walking trails, airports and other attractions. A preliminary list will be prepared to give to visitors at the Buzzard Rally motorcycle event April 4 to 6, sponsored by the American Legion. With 35 or more items on the tour, visitors could pick those attractions of most interest to them. Chamber members also discussed a need for businesses, particularly restaurants, to set hours and plan to be open during those hours. On a recent Sunday, all restaurants in town were closed with the exception of the self-service food outlet at Town and Country convenience store. Restaurants and other businesses have a hard time finding help and, without a larger labor pool, the problem may not go away any time soon, most chamber members agreed. Back Cactus Chat: Some more visitin’ goin’ on By KIM RAPP News Leader Production Manager SANDERSON – Visitors to our town last weekend were Jennifer Sandifer & Vanessa Patterson of Midland. Tagging along were 10-year-old Skye and Madie Patterson, who is six. The foursome came to celebrate the sixth birthday of Jayden Montalvo. Jennifer is the sister of Jackie & Johnnie Ann Sandifer of Sanderson. Also making the party for the six-year-old was Mickey Corbett of Eagle Pass. Youth minister T.J. Cathey is coming to town. He is from Portales, NM, and is coming for an initial meeting with pastor John Carnagey to iron out details for an upcoming rally in April. Along with being a youth pastor, Cathey also plays in a Christian rock band called Bought by Grace. The band will come in April, to perform. Cathey is the nephew of Sanderson’s own Lyn Rosas. Back ‘Falkfest’ event to continue By KIM RAPP News Leader Production Manager SANDERSON – The Ninth Annual Falkfest is in the books, minus founder Walter “Gunther” Falk, who passed away July 10, 2007. The crowds began coming in for the event at Cantina El Gavilan from Austin, Rockport and San Antonio last weekend. It was rumored that without Falk there would be no more Falkfest. Not so, says co-organizer Steve Anderson of Sanderson and Austin. “It will continue,” he said, maybe under a different name but it will live on. About 15 people showed up for this year’s tribute to Falk. No artwork was shown. The “Falkman” was loved by many, from mathematicians like Peter Olofsson to beer brewers such as Anderson. One fan who has only missed a few Falkfests is rock & roller Derven Rodgers from Austin with drummer girlfriend Trisha Daniel. When asked if they would return next year, he exclaimed, “absolutely. We can’t not do this.” Falk’s wife Rhonda was present along with son Nathan and his girlfriend Amanda Yzaguirre. The other son, Ben, could not make it. Things are sort of up in the air right now, Anderson said. They may try to have the Falkfest during spring break so it would be more convenient for people, especially Rhonda who is a schoolteacher at Faulk Elementary in Rockport. Though no artwork was shown, the spirit of Walter Falk lingered in conversations as friends and loved ones reminisced about him and what he meant to them. Falkfest began when a group of Austinites including Mason Adikins, Steve Anderson, Richard Zelade and Falk – who had bought property in and around Sanderson – began a series of free barbecues to thank the community. It included a showing of original Falk paintings. So Falkfest was born and was expanded to include Boquillas, Coah. Organizers prepared 300 pounds of barbecue and ferried it across the Rio Grande where it was served to the entire community across from Big Bend National Park while Falk showed paintings. The border closed and the party continued on this side of the border moving to Junction, Alpine and sometimes Marathon. This year, the party moved on to Junction. Next year, who knows where the group might end up going? Friends at this year’s event were Doug Nowotny of Pflugerville and Billy Forester of Austin, who enjoys keeping up with Sanderson on the Internet at www.tcnewsleader.com. Also present was Thomas Owens, who is a stained glass artist from Austin who also enjoys keeping up with our corner of the world online. Owens also bought property in the area after coming to Falkfest. These folks have been coming here for nearly ten years and have “met some great friends, ” Owens said. Everyone we asked said they would definitely be back next year so, in a way, Falk lives on in all who knew and loved him. Back Crystal Ybarra poetry contest winner ALPINE – Crystal Ybarra of Marathon High School was among the winners at the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering here. Crystal won third place in the ninth through 12th grade category for “My Best Friend.” The contest was open to children in school grades kindergarten to high school senior and had to be about ranch life. Other winners in the ninth through twelfth grade category were first place Blake Trester of Big Bend High School for “Western Sky” and second place Helena Stark, also of Big Bend High School, for “A Cowboy’s Sonnet.” Lauren Hardin of Alpine Middle School finished first in the seventh and eighth category for “Trouble Is…” Eloise Haynes from Alpine Christian School was second for “Ranch Dog.” Third place went to Jayna Rogers of Alpine Middle School for “Snake for Dinner.” In the fifth and sixth grade category, first was Ashleigh Pasqua of Dirks-Anderson in Fort Davis for “The Old Ford Truck.” Cody Rabie of Alpine Middle School was second for “Waiting for Eight” and Cory Manek, also of Alpine Middle School was third for “It’s not Over.” The winners in the Kindergarten through fourth grade category were all from Dirks-Anderson School. First place went to Karlee Crenshaw for “Out in the Pasture,” second to Kennedy Caldwell for “ A Day on the Ranch” and third to Katelynn Roman for “Pinky.” The announcement was made by Dr. Nelson Sager, Sul Ross State University English professor and long-time member of the Poetry Gathering’s steering committee. The other judges were William “Trey” Darby III, a graduate student, and Virginia Sandoval, an undergraduate. Darby and Sandoval are both members of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honorary Society. In addition to being related to ranch life, the poems had to be eight lines – four in category K-4 – and were limited to a maximum of two pages. Poems were judged on creativity, originality, figurative language, appropriateness and structure. Back

Bonham chaired the discussion of the road race during the meeting. The three-member board had been made up of former County Judge Dudley Harrison, then Fort Stockton Mayor Tony Villarreal and then City Manager Danny Valenzuela. Smith was appointed when Harrison died. Villarreal did not run for re-election but stayed on the board. His replacement as mayor, Ruben Falcon, told the board the city wants to support the race but does not want to run it. Valenzuela left the city manager job and resigned from the board, creating the vacancy filled Tuesday by Ivy. Furman told the chamber board early in the discussion that “almost everything has been ordered and some of it has come in” for the April race. She said she now needs to make “heavy phone calls” to racers and others involved in the race. Furman said the goal is 160 cars but the race could be run with as few as 75 to 80 cars. She said the race crew needs assurances that communications, medical and fire serves and all other support services will be available. She said the April race date is “probably salvageable.” Smith had suggested a “Plan B” with alternates for the race crew and an alternate date, such as the Road Runner Open Road Race date in October. But Archer and Furman agreed “there is no Plan B.” Furman said it remained to be seen if the Road Runner event between here and Marathon in October could be run. She said that could be determined after the April event. Three cagers named all district SANDERSON – Three Sanderson High School basketball stars were named All District after winning third in the district this year. Seniors Hannah Black and Jenny Hernandez and sophomore Sarah Sivils were named All-District. Hannah was selected to play in the Texas Six-man Coaches Association all-star game in July. Jenny will be second alternate for the TSCA all-star game. Sophomore Blakeney Chriesman received an honorable mention and missed being newcomer of the year by one vote. Also winning honorable mention were sophomore Jessica Garza and freshman Noemi Nuñez. The varsity Lady Eagles ended their season in Monahans on February 16 when they lost to the Highland Hornets in the area round of the playoffs. Their season record was 16-10 and they came in third in District. The ladies won Bi-District against Dell City before their game in Monahans. “On behalf of the Lady Eagles, I would like to thank all of our fans that came out and supported the team this year,” Coach Jerry Garza told the News Leader. “We had a successful year and we look forward to seeing all of you next season.” Back Bazaar benefits clinic SANDERSON – Cactus Health Services, Inc., benefited from the Sanderson Culture Club’s Christmas Bazaar this year. The Culture Club, a division of the Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs, chose Cactus as its community project. Club member Page Mitchell presented a check for $200 to Cactus Chief Operating Officer Teresa Smith. The funds came from the concession stand at the last annual club bazaar. “Our funds determine how limited we are in the services we provide,” Smith said. “Some of our members feel that if we don’t help ourselves as a community, who else will,” Mitchell told the News Leader. “As a club our numbers are few and our effort may be small,” Project Manager Becky Norris said. “But after reading last week’s article about the health center in the News Leader, we want to challenge every organization in Sanderson to get behind Cactus so it can continue to serve each of us.” The club also holds a raffle for a casserole at each meeting, which is scheduled monthly. The next meeting is scheduled for March 13. The GFWC Sanderson Culture Club is one of the oldest continually-active clubs in the community. Membership is by invitation only. Back Portillo visits ‘Big Apple’ NEW YORK – Sanderson Coach Adam Portillo won a four-day visit here in an essay contest. Portillo submitted an essay to EF Tours on why student travel is essential to education. He was among 35 teachers from around the United States and Mexico who were chosen for this trip. While in the “Big Apple,” he attended workshops at the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design. He learned how to incorporate student travel into classroom activities and how to lead student travel tours. Attending teachers also exchanged ideas on teaching and other topics. Other than workshops, he visited all the major tourist attractions including the top of the Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Times Square. He also visited the NBC studios of Saturday Night Live and Conan O’Brian Studio, attended the Broadway show “Hairspray,” saw Chinatown, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Plaza, Central Park, John Lennon’s residence and many other historical sites. “Being able to see all the major attractions that you watch on TV or read about in books was very exciting,” Portillo said. “One surprising fact that I learned was New York City has the second best water system in the United States,” he said. “Therefore, the drinking water is very good.” Portillo said it was a fast and furious, exciting and fun-filled trip. Back Two killed in accidents PECOS – Two people were killed in separate rollover accidents over the weekend. One person was killed and one injured in a one-vehicle rollover about 6 p.m. Friday on US Highway 67 about 12 miles south of Interstate 10 near Fort Stockton. Ashley Tiara Stern, 19, of Dallas, a student at Sul Ross State University at Alpine, was killed when the northbound sedan she was driving drifted to the right. She overcorrected and the car rolled over several times. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Pecos County Justice of the Peace Robert Gonzales. Chantil Lacey Stapp, 21, of Junction, another Sul Ross student, was injured but was later released from a hospital in Odessa. Department of Public Safety Trooper David Nañez of Fort Stockton investigated the accident. Another one-vehicle rollover On I-10 ten miles west of Balmorhea about 6 p.m. Sunday killed one and injured two. Pronounced dead at the scene was David Leija 24, of Algoa. The DPS said he was a passenger in an SUV that rolled after a tire “rapidly lost air” while the car was eastbound on the interstate. Injured were Crystal Lynn Casillas and Carlos Mendoza, both 21 and both of San Antonio. The driver, Angela Cristine Bazan of New Braunfels, was not injured. Back QEP beats March 1 deadline ALPINE – The supporting research document explaining Sul Ross State University’s Quality Enhancement Plan has been completed and sent to the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges five days ahead of the March 1 deadline. A committee of 43 has been at work on the plan since fall 2006 with 11 new committee members added in the fall of 2007. The QEP is part of the documentation and planning for the school’s reaffirmation of accreditation by SACS. “I’m pleased that our hard-working committee was able to meet this important deadline,” President R. Vic Morgan said. The 75-page, single-spaced, document includes an explanation of the Sul Ross plan to enhance student learning through engagement with their classes and supporting university activities. The plan includes three strategies: increasing outdoor learning opportunities, a pilot program to encourage innovation, and faculty development seminars. Student learning will be measured through administration of the National Survey of Student Engagement and the critical thinking portion of the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency test. These instruments also represent the two categories, engagement survey and academic testing, required by the Voluntary System of Accountability that has been designed and sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Sul Ross has registered for participation in the VSA. Thus, the QEP also fits neatly into a larger national transparency plan to help students and parents select a university that will provide the educational opportunities desired. “Sul Ross State University should look very attractive on the VSA website,” Morgan said. “We will rank close to the top for ratio of available laboratory equipment per student, number of full-time Ph.D. faculty who teach freshman courses, campus safety and numerous other categories. We will rank close to the bottom in cost and class size. “We also believe that our students will make significant progress in critical thinking during their four years at Sul Ross,” he said. “The NSSE survey and the CAAP test should work together well to guide us toward demonstrating that our graduates receive a quality education for a reasonable price.” As research reviewed in the QEP document demonstrates, higher education is now focusing on “value-added learning” or measuring how much progress students make during their college careers, rather than using a university’s endowment fund and the ACT/SAT test scores of entering freshmen. A similar document was provided by a similar committee at SRSU’s Rio Grande College campus. Both QEP documents will be evaluated by a SACS review team scheduled to arrive on the Alpine campus March 29 to April 2. Morgan has served several other universities as a reviewer for their QEPs. Prior to submission, he reviewed the QEP document for each campus. “I feel confident that our reaffirmation team will find these QEPs satisfactory and that we can begin implementation next fall,” he said. Back Regents OK $386,000 in gifts ALPINE – The Board of Regents of the Texas State University System has approved several items, including a $30,000 grant from Mayme B. Brotherton of Dryden. The grant, which was among $386,000 in gifts, will go to the History Endowment and History Excellence Fund at Sul Ross State University. The regents, meeting at Beaumont last week, also granted authority for Sul Ross to negotiate and sign, with appropriate System Office approvals, a long-term lease with Brown-Miller Management Inc. of Beeville on approximately eight acres of land on the south side of East Highway 90. Brown-Miller proposes to build a 60-unit franchise hotel on the site. Negotiations are still in progress and no formal lease has yet been signed. Sul Ross sold surplus duplex housing units located on the site in July. The surplus buildings, empty since the construction of the Lobo Village Residential Living Complex, were removed by the buyer. The university determined it had no planned use for the land due to its separation from the main campus. The regents also approved a four-percent increase in meal plan rates and seven-percent increase in room rates, effective in the fall semester. Increased room rates were requested due to increased costs of operation of the new apartment-style facilities, including wear and tear and utilities. Effective in the fall semester, rates in Lobo Village Residence Halls will rise from $1,735 to $1,855 in the fall and spring semesters and from $595 to $635 during summer semesters. Lobo Village efficiency apartment rates will increase from $415 to $445 per month and family apartment rates will rise from $450 to $480 per month. Back Cowboy Poetry Gathering opens ALPINE – The 22nd Annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering opened Tuesday in Marshall Auditorium on the campus of Sul Ross State University. The Gathering is an opportunity for working cowboys and cowgirls to display their talents as poets, musicians and storytellers. The Gathering also serves as a reunion for the participants. Starting at 2 p.m. today, Feb. 29, and running until 5 p.m. tomorrow, there are nine concurrent sessions at various locations on the Sul Ross campus. The event is funded by the contributions of area businesses and individuals. West Texas National Bank is the 2008 title sponsor and the City of Alpine has made a significant contribution to the event. Sul Ross State University provides the facilities and the Alpine Avalanche is a significant contributor. Others include TransPecos Banks, Morrison True Value Radio Shack Just Ask Rental, Kay Burnett, Jim and Julie Nowell, TransPecos Guitars, Rob and Margaret Matthews, TriCounty Printing, Texas Disposal, Carpenter Real Estate and Greg and Michelle Reynolds. Also Penitas Ranch, Tanksley Ranch, One Way Nursery, McCoy Remme Ranches, Bill Rubenstein, Three Mesquiteers, Johnson Feed and Western Wear, Jack and Louisa Mayfield, Big Bend Saddlery and Mike Forrester. Also Big Bend Telephone, Karen Travland (Bunk House), Trans Pecos Appreciation, Front Street Books, Texas Fusion and Dr. J.P. Schwartz at Cactus Health Services. A custom made pair of spurs by Cotton Elliott will be raffled to support the event. Tickets are available at Twin Peaks Liquors, West Texas National Bank, Johnson Feed and Western Wear, Big Bend Saddlery and Trans Pecos Guitars, They also will be available at the event until the drawing tomorrow night. Tickets are $10 each. This year for the first time, the steering committee will offer a 2008 commemorative partner pin for a minimum $10 donation. Those pins will be available on the Sul Ross campus at the information booth and from committee members during the Gathering. Charlie Chambers and Michael and Dawn Moon will be the headliners for the show tonight in Marshall Auditorium. Joel Nelson will emcee the show, which will include other performers as well. Guy and Pip Gillette and R.P. Smith will join others on the Marshall stage at 7 p.m. tomorrow. Michael Stevens will be the emcee. For both night shows, the cost of admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and lap babies are free. Back

There had been reports the Marathon event would be canceled because of drilling activity along US 385 between the two communities and because that race had not yet been profitable. Sand Ridge Energy, which has extensive drilling operations along US 385, helped sponsor the race last year. “I was afraid we were going to be told that we couldn’t have the race, that they weren’t going to let us close the road,” Furman said after the RRORR last year. “But they sponsored the race and they were wonderful.” However, extensive truck traffic along the highway has taken its toll. Back Tuesday Primary election Tuesday, March 4, is election day for Democrats and Republicans to chose candidates that will run in the general election in November. Election officials say there is a lot of confusion because the state is not responsible for the election. The parties are. Texas Republicans will also be asked to vote on three referenda. The News Leader said in error last week that both parties had referenda. There are none on the Democratic ballot. Referendum Number One on the Republican ballot asks voters opinions on whether federal, state and local officials “should be required to enforce US immigration laws in order to secure our borders.” Number Two asks if the Texas Legislature should require a “valid photo identification” to be able to vote in the state. Number Three asks if “every governmental body in Texas” should limit annual budget increases to a combination of increase in population and inflation or to get voter approval for the increase. The Republican Precinct Convention will be at 7:30 p.m. March 4 after polls close in the county treasurers’ office. The county convention will be at 5 p.m. March 29 in the Community Building. Democratic precinct conventions will be in the courthouse. Precinct One will be on the first floor lobby. Precinct Two will be in the commissioners courtroom. Precinct Three will be on the second-floor lobby and Precinct Four will be in the district courtroom. The Democratic County convention will be March 29 at a place to be announced. Back Rotary Book Fair set ALPINE -- The Rotary Club of Alpine will host the “Way Out West Texas Book Festival” next summer to benefit the Alpine Public Library and its Marathon branch. Club President Robert Fast made the announcement Monday after several weeks of feasibility study and planning. The multifaceted event is scheduled for August 8 and 9 at the Sul Ross Espino Conference Center. Participants will gather at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 8, for a Chuckwagon Supper and Songfest on the grounds of Kokernot Lodge where singer/guitarist/author Mike Blakely will perform and special invitees will be introduced. The ticketed event will require reservations. Programs throughout the day Saturday, Aug. 9, will feature authors who have written books on western fiction, Texas Rangers in fact and legend, natural history of the Big Bend and other topics. Most sessions will feature a panel of authors and a moderator. On Saturday, Aug. 9, authors and publishers may rent booth space in the reception area of the conference center to sell their books to the visiting public. There will be a Grand Silent Auction during the day in a designated area of the Espino center. In order to bid, attendees must have purchased tickets for either the Chuckwagon Supper or the Saturday Night Banquet Finale, a dressy affair with a gourmet menu and a special guest star to be announced. The auction will end just as the banquet begins and guests will claim their auction items before they leave. To date, authors Elmer Kelton, David Marion Wilkinson, Jim Glendinning, Mike Blakely, The University of Texas Press and Iron Mountain Press/John M. Hardy Publishing, Inc., have made plans to attend. “We expect a great deal of enthusiasm for this event,” said Festival Committee Chair Wanda P. Morgan. “We have just begun to fill in the dots in what we hope will become a premier literary festival for the entire state.” Committee members Jean Hardy and Arlene and Steve Griffis round out the planning group, which is actively seeking volunteers and participants. Authors, publishers, journalists and other publishing professionals, individuals with organizational and communication skills and those with interest in supporting the Alpine Public Library, especially its Capital Campaign for a new library building, are encouraged to contact Arlene Griffis at arlenegriffis@sbcglobal.net or 432/386-4695 or any member of the committee. Back Four Eagles top events FORT STOCKTON – Sanderson Eagles Travis Roberts, his brother Taylor, J.D. Brotherton and Phillip Lascano each brought home first place wins from the Comanche Relays here last weekend. Travis placed first in both the 1,600-meter run, clocking in at 5.08.02, and the 3,200-meter run, finishing in 11.51.96. J.D. finished first in the 100-meter dash in 11.24 and the 200-meter dash in 23.52. Junior Phillip Lascano went the distance in the triple jump, winning the event by jumping 40 feet, 11 inches. He also placed third in the 100-meter dash. In the eighth grade division, Taylor Roberts placed first in the 2,400-meter run and fourth in the 800-meter run. Coming in third place in the discus throw was David Shoemaker with a toss of 109 feet. Darren Seidel won two fourth place honors in the discus throw and the shot put. The discus went 104 feet, two inches, while he heaved the shot 37 feet, four inches. Sophomore Jacob Benavidez placed fourth in the 800-meter run, crossing the line in 2.28.37. Junior Jimmy Rapp jumped 35 feet, eight-and-a-half inches in the triple jump, earning him fifth place. Eighth grader Shawn Stegall bagged second place in the 2,400-meter run and second in the 1,600-meter run. In the girl’s events, a team of Clarissa Brotherton, Monica Lozano, Juliana Castro and Hannah Black won third place in the 800-meter relay In the 1,600-meter relay, Clarissa, Hannah and Juliana picked up Miriam Nuñez to take third. Noemi Nuñez placed fourth in the 3,200-meter run while sister Miriam took fifth in the 400-meter dash. Back Sanderson represented at show By ELIZA ODGERS 4-H Reporter SAN ANGELO – Brandee and Shawn Stegall, Cordell Lawson and Dryden Baker went to the goat show here Saturday and, even though they didn‘t place, we still had some Sanderson cheerleaders to cheer them on. We would like to thank them for coming and cheering us on. We are having our second shooting sports on Sunday at 1:30 at the shooting range so we can get ready for Marathon’s and Del Rio’s competition. Hope to see you there. Back Chili tickets now on sale SANDERSON – Tickets will go on sale starting today, Feb. 29, for the annual Band Booster chili supper, scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 10. The boosters discussed the chili supper this week and also discussed where the band program stands currently in light of the resignation last week of Band Director Tom Torres. Booster President Lindy Stumberg told the News Leader that students and parents will sell tickets. On the menu will be chili and all the trimmings and/or a baked potato, tea, and dessert, $5 for one or $7 for both. All proceeds of the chili supper will be banked for a $1,000 scholarship that will be presented to a senior who has attended band all four years of high school. Door prizes also will be given out this year. A series of fundraisers will be made to support a scholarship for band camp in the summer, including the concession stand for the district track meet in April. There are currently 29 kids in the band program, which is being temporarily taught by Elementary School art and music teacher Sandra Breckenridge. Back Presbyterians get new pastor SANDERSON – Reverend Désirée Youngblood is the new pastor at the First Presbyterian Church here. Pronounced “Daisy Ray,” Youngblood received two Bachelors degrees from Texas A & M in Kingsville and her Masters in divinity from Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin. Her husband Mark Johnson is a physicist at IBM in Austin and will be coming to town as often as possible. Youngblood’s BAs are in theater arts and mathematics. This is her first church and she is looking forward to the opportunity. She told the News Leader that to be a Presbyterian pastor requires an undergraduate degree and a Masters in divinity. The church has been without a regular preacher since 1998 when Gary Seager was the pastor. Tom Koger served for a few years but was a lay preacher. Back Scout cookies go to troops SANDERSON – Besides raising funds for local projects, the Sanderson Girl Scout Troop 141 has provided treats from home for troops serving their country overseas. Besides selling cookies to satisfy the sweet tooth of residents, scouts also sold 11 boxes to be sent to service people. The girls delivered these cookies to Justice of the Peace and parent Corina Castro, who will acquire the necessary information to send the boxes on behalf of Girl Scout Troop 141. Scout leader Gina Garza said the scouts asked her to thank the people of Sanderson for their support. Back Trappings opens tonight ALPINE – Classic western gear and art will headline the 22nd annual Trappings of Texas Exhibit and Sale today and tomorrow, Feb. 29 and March 1, at Sul Ross State University. Trappings is a juried invitational exhibit that brings together contemporary cowboy gear and art. It is hosted by the Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross and has become a West Texas tradition. This year’s Trappings began with a lecture, “Old Masters: Taos School of Art,” by Michael Duty, guest curator of art, last night. The main event, the Trappings sale and opening reception will begin at 7 p.m. today, Feb. 29, at the newly-renovated Museum of the Big Bend on the Sul Ross State University campus.  Tickets must have been purchased in advance. The Trappings public auction will be from 10 a.m. to noon tomorrow, March 1, in Room 309 of Lawrence Hall. Items for the auction have been donated from gearmakers, artists and businesses from around the world. Back ‘Rawhide’ workshop set FORT STOCKTON – “Rawhide” is coming to Fort Stockton. The Texas AgriLife Extension Service workshop, whose name stands for “Ranching Aimed at Wildlife Habitat Improvement and Diversification of Enterprises,” is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at the Pecos County Civic Center. The civic center is one mile north of Interstate 10 on US Highway 285. Organizers said the workshop is intended for those wanting to improve wildlife habitat and diversify into more wildlife-related enterprises by making a few well-planned management decisions. Those decisions relate to stocking rates, grazing systems and type and class of livestock grazed. Program topics will deal with rangeland health, deer, quail and livestock interactions, brush management, rangeland economics and the various conservation programs available for landowners. The workshop is being conducted by the AgriLife Extension offices in Terrell, Reeves and Pecos counties. Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units for licensed pesticide users will be offered.  Individual registration is $15 until March 7 and $25 thereafter. The fee covers lunch and teaching materials. For more information or to register, call the AgriLife Extension office in Pecos County at 432/336-2541. Back Landscapes a feature of Gallery show MARFA – Greasewood Gallery at the Hotel Paisano will host a new exhibit, “Large Landscapes of the Big Bend” by Richard Fenker, in the Hotel Paisano Ballroom beginning today, Feb. 29.  Fenker is an artist, photographer, author and entrepreneur from Santa Fe, NM, and Fort Davis whose work has been featured in Greasewood Gallery and at the Hotel Paisano for several years.  For the past ten years, the majority of Fenker’'s landscape work has been in panoramic format using a Fuji landscape camera that takes a negative roughly two by seven inches in size. The prints are typically two to three feet in length – large prints by many photographic standards but not large enough, given the detail in the negatives. “I started the ‘large landscape series’ in the spring of 2007 as an experiment to move the viewer from ‘looking at a framed photograph of a natural scene’ to actually ‘participating’ in the scene – and to take advantage of the enormous detail in the negatives, Fenker said. Although Fenker’s work covers many areas of New Mexico, Utah and West Texas, the prints in this show come only from the Big Bend region. The large Big Bend landscapes are approximately 30 by 96 inches and framed. The pieces appear more like paintings than photographs as Fenker’s way of ‘seeing’ and style of printing moves them in that direction. As the artist, Fenker attempts to control and soften the light throughout the scene in the printing process and choice of materials – ink on watercolor paper. The result, Fenker said, “comes closer to capturing the ‘sweet light’ that is so characteristic of the Big Bend area, dramatic at times and yet, in the early morning and late afternoon, filled with softness and warm hues that enhance the desert’s subtle color palette.”  There will be an artist’s reception from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight in the hotel ballroom. For more information, contact Vicki Lynn Barge, gallery director, at 432/729-4134. Back