AUSTIN – The School Land Board voted unanimously Tuesday not to accept either of the two private conservation bids for the Christmas Mountains while taking no action on a management plan by Big Bend National Park.
As a result, the Permanent School Fund retains ownership
of the 9,269-acre tract of land northwest of the park and north of Study Butte.
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said the board was
not able to take action or discuss the Park Service plan because it was received too late to place on the agenda.
He said the
plan could be discussed at a future board meeting, pending further examination and clarification of the plan details.
“We needed to
resolve the issue of the two bidders that had money on the table,” he said. “With the question of private ownership resolved for now,
we can now more fully explore the option of public ownership. And there is a lot to consider.
“But there are some things we can do
in the meantime,” he said.
After the board meeting, Patterson outlined a series of immediate steps he will pursue to ensure better
public access no matter who owns the tract.
Patterson has directed his legal staff to create a permanent public easement between the
Christmas Mountains Ranch tract and Big Bend National Park.
The easement would allow public access in perpetuity across the mile-long
common border with the park.
It will improve public access immediately and does not require board action, Patterson said.
He said private
owners own 18 of the 19 miles of the property boundary.
To access the one mile shared with the National Park requires a rigorous four-hour
hike, he said.
“Right now, Texans can’t get to this property,” Patterson said. “I've made that four-hour hike and, believe me, the public deserves
additional ways to get to the property, regardless of whether the state or federal government owns the land.”
Patterson is also pledging to work with members of Congress for a federal designation and appropriation for the Christmas Mountains that will provide for the long-term maintenance of the property while allowing public hunting and compliance with state firearms laws.
Patterson has been ridiculed for insisting hunting be allowed on the property while NPS generally does not allow hunting.
He said many other federal agencies like the US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Forest Service allow and actually encourage hunting.
“Federal ownership and hunting in the Christmas Mountains are not mutually exclusive,” Patterson said. “It is possible to do both. We will explore all options at the federal level.”
In its management plan, the NPS did not directly preclude hunting but said the mountains “offer extremely limited opportunity due to lack of reliable water sources and limited numbers of desired game species.”
Access to the remote site, as noted by Patterson, also make hunting an unlikely opportunity for most, NPS said.
The land was a gift from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Conservation Fund and was accepted on behalf of the state by then-Land Commissioner Garry Mauro in 1991.
SANDERSON – The Terrell County Airport was an unusual hub of activity over the weekend as the “100 Mile an Hour Club” breezed through
on a fly-in to Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Meanwhile, there will be a workshop at 1 p.m. Monday in the Commissioners Courtroom with
members of the court and the Airport Board.
The two are working to come up with a plan for expansion of the airport.
County Judge Leo
Smith and Road and Bridge Superintendent Mike Sanchez met with the Aviation Division of the Texas Department of Transportation last
month and TxDOT has written a letter to Smith detailing what the county must and must not do as it mulls expansion.
At least 14 airplanes
came through on Saturday alone after five on Friday and a similar number on Sunday.
The Airport Board plans a spring barbeque at the
airport and had planned to tie it into the annual fly-in of the 100 Mile and Hour Club.
The weekend fly-in came too soon to include
it in the plans for a barbecue.
“But there are a number of flying clubs and they are all looking for outings,” Airport Board Chairman
Jim Street said.
“We will just find another group that is looking for a spot to fly into and plan our barbecue around that,” he said.
“We hope to bring the community out to have a look at our local airport and the proceeds could help the Terrell County Volunteer Fire
Department.”
SANDERSON – Friday, Feb. 1, marked one year since the tragic loss of teen athlete Melissa
Cruz in an auto accident east of Dryden.
In memoriam, all Sanderson High School and Junior High School students wore pink shirts Friday.
Brother Carlos Cruz and his parents, along with his grandmother Luz Flores, marked the anniversary by clearing out old flowers from
her grave, placed there the day she was buried, and placed new arrangements in their place.
Stuffed animals lined the bottom of the
plot along with miscellaneous items reminiscent of “Missy.”
The family dusted off the stuffed animals and talked about all who placed
them there and what they meant to Melissa.
Carlos tied a huge bouquet of red and pink balloons to a wooden cross that stood more or
less in the middle of the grave.
Missy’s dad Ruben made a pink Superman emblem, welded it to an iron stake and placed it in the dirt
near the headstone.
At noon, a flood of classmates and friends showed up at the gravesite to share in the memorial.
Most of her classmates
had something to share about the loss and her memory.
All agreed that the school just wasn’t the same but that, with time, their hurt
and pain were starting to heal.
Many shared how little things happen that are reminiscent of Melissa.
The number 11, Melissa’s basketball
jersey number, was retired but it kept showing up.
The first game just a day after her loss, the varsity girls beat Grandfalls by
11.
They went back this year and, at the end of the first quarter, Sanderson was winning by 11 and then, by half time, the score was
tied at 11.
Most would call it coincidence. Her friends and family choose to think of it as a sign that she is still here in memory
and spirit.
After about 30 minutes of sharing favorite memories, Carlos Cruz asked that everyone bow their heads and pray together.
He led everyone in the Lord’s Prayer and all present said their goodbyes.
Melissa made a huge impact on many lives, not just in Sanderson,
but everywhere she went.
Though she is gone, her memory will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew her.
SANDERSON – After it looked last week like the Republican primary election would not happen in Terrell County, it is back on track.
Beverly
Evans has agreed to serve as chairman of the Terrell County Republican Party.
“Congratulations and thank you for taking on the very
important role of county chairman,” Organizational Director and Primary Elections Administrator Jenny Sykes wrote in a letter to Evans.
“This
is a critical leadership role, both locally and statewide,” she wrote. “The support you provide in Terrell County will provide the
foundation needed to grow and maintain our party in Texas.”
Evans said voters must have registered to vote as of last Monday to vote
in the primary.
Those who signed petitions for Democratic candidates will not be able to vote in the Republican Primary.
Because the
time has passed for preparing machine ballots, the Republican primary will be on paper ballots only.
All four Terrell County precincts
will be consolidated at the Terrell County courthouse for the election.
The Democratic Primary will be in four locations but all within
the courthouse.
Early voting for both parties begins Feb. 19 and runs through Feb. 29. Both primaries will be Tuesday, March 4.
Requests
for mail ballots must include which party the voter wants to vote in.
Early voting will be on the first-floor lobby of the courthouse.
Complete
ballots including referenda on both ballots will be in the News Leader as the election nears.
AUSTIN – Terrell County has been added to a list of Texas counties that qualify for a state disaster declaration because of the danger
of wildfires.
With the addition of Terrell and 31 other counties, the total on the list is now 184 of the state’s 254 counties.
Gov.
Rick Perry also asked for a federal disaster declaration.
In a letter to President George W. Bush, Perry requested a presidential disaster
declaration for the state as a result of widespread wildfires and continuing fire danger.
To date, 75 wildfires have burned approximately
70,000 acres and destroyed 60 homes and structures.
“Texas is thankful to the brave men and women from fire departments across the
state who are battling these fires on the front lines,” Perry said. “As wildfires continue to rage across our state, Texas is reaching
its capacity to respond to these emergencies and is in need of federal assistance.”
A presidential disaster declaration would make
the state eligible for financial assistance from the federal government.
The request includes individual assistance, public assistance
including debris removal, emergency protective measures and repair of damage to public structures.
It also includes hazard mitigation
statewide including actions to strengthen infrastructure against future disasters.
A series of fronts producing high wind and low humidity
moved across the state last week, creating extremely dry conditions favorable for wildfires, which were expected to continue through
this week.
“I urge all Texans to continue to exercise great caution at this time and observe burn bans and other warnings to ensure
the safety of themselves and their families,” Perry said.
Perry activated firefighting resources from around the state, including ten
Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and two Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters, to aid local officials in response efforts.
Perry also
authorized the use of the Texas Forest Service and the Texas Department of Transportation and will use US Civil Air Patrol and volunteer
organizations including the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
The State Operations Center remains at the highest level of
activation to monitor the situation and the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management is coordinating state support for local officials.
SONORA – Officials were still tight-lipped this week about the murder January 15 here of Kendrick Harrell, 53, a Sanderson native
who was killed in an apparent robbery attempt at his trailer home.
“He was shot and killed at his home,” Texas Ranger Brooks Long of
Ozona said this week. “That’s all I can tell you. It’s still under investigation.”
A similar comment came from Assistant District Attorney
Lori English, contacted at her office in Fort Stockton.
The Texas Department of Public Safety public information office in Austin
said it knew nothing other than the basic facts.
Sonora police were called to the Stadium Trailer Park early that morning where they
found Harrell’s body inside his house.
The Devil’s River News said police did not allow photographs by a young reporter, even scaring
him away from filming in a public street.
The paper filed a Freedom of Information request but Assistant Editor Ben Taylor said all
it resulted in was the incident report, which did not contain any new information.
“We do know there were no alcohol or drugs involved,”
Taylor said.
Harrell was found by his employer, Robert Mittel.
A 1973 graduate of Sanderson High School, Harrell was an employee
of Mittel’s dozing company.
He previously owned 4-H Auto in Sanderson before moving to Ozona and then Sonora.
By LAURA GALVAN
Special to the News Leader
SANDERSON – Project Graduation 2008 organizers have been working hard on fundraising
for the seniors this year.
The program provides a chemical free, all night party for graduating seniors after the graduation ceremonies
each May.
Project Graduation hosted numerous concessions at the basketball games and one tournament.
A pizza sale on Super Bowl Sunday
was a success with a total of 96 pizzas delivered by the seniors, parents and sponsors.
Next on the lineup are Valentine’s Day candy
grams. Seniors will sell heart-shaped lollipops for $1.
Each candy can be personalized and delivered. Deliveries to elementary students
will have to be made to the home.
There are different flavors to choose from. Those interested in sending a candy gram should see any
senior.
Seniors for 2008 are Hannah Black, Leo Busch, Raul Salazar, Ben Rubio, Kelcee Hall, Catherine Villarreal, Jenny Hernandez,
Erin Corbett, Davis Stumberg, Isaac Ramirez, Irma Nuñez, Danell Graham and Rosa Gonzales.
Also coming up quickly are the track meets.
Parents will receive letters asking them to sign up to help work at the track concessions.
Everyone’s cooperation is greatly needed.
The concessions can be grueling, starting early in the morning and ending late into the night.
Volunteers would be greatly appreciated
to help relieve seniors and parents.
The community has been a great support to the seniors’ organizers fundraising efforts.
A big
“thank you” goes out to all of the people that have supported Project Graduation 2008 thus far.
If you are not a senior parent but
would like to contribute in some way to Project Graduation, speak with co-chairs Sue Black or Laura Galvan or senior sponsor Kristie
Carroll.
COMSTOCK – This is the weekend for the first ever “Archeolympics” at Seminole Canyon State Park near here.
The event from 1 to 4 p.m.
tomorrow, Feb. 9, will put the primitive skills of early Texans into practice.
Contestants will hunt targets along a nature trail
in the State Park in the Atlatl Spear-thrower competition.
Others will use a boomerang-like rabbit stick to hit moving and still targets
representing small game in the Rabbit Stick competition.
And contestants will see who will be the fastest to use a simple hand drill
to make a fire in the Friction-fire Race.
Joe Labadie, National Park Service archeologist at Amistad Recreation Area near Del Rio,
will discuss artifacts in the area.
There are registration fees for individuals and for teams with fees being applied for awards and
other expenses.
Registration forms and more details on the events scheduled may be obtained by calling 432/292-4848, by e-mail to jjohnson@shumla.org or
by visiting the Calendar of Events at www.texaspecostrail.com.
By LYN ROSAS
RANKIN – The Sanderson Eagle varsity basketball teams wound down their season with three losses
to the Red Devils here Tuesday.
The junior varsity girls played a tough four quarters with Rankin’s junior varsity but lost by a score
of 40 to 11.
High scorer for the season ender was Lizette Ramirez with six, followed by two points apiece from Erin Corbett and Julianna
Castro. Adding one point was Ashley Hernandez.
The varsity girls had a little better game but still lost with a score of 41 to 31.
Sophomore
Sarah Sivils was high scorer with nine, followed by Hannah Black with eight, Jenny Hernandez with six, Vicky Busch with four and two
apiece for Noemi Nuñez and Blakeney Chriesman.
The Eagles varsity boys lost as well with a score of 78 to 34.
Leading the Eagles in
scoring was junior Phillip Lascano with 12, followed by Jacob Bena-videz and Darren Seidel with six each. Freshman Kelley Lomas got
the only three pointer of the night for the boys.
Sharing two apiece were Jimmy Rapp, Davis Stumberg and Cordell Lawson.
The Junior
High Eagles hosted Buena Vista Monday, losing to the Longhorns 32-25.
Two Eagles, Dryden Baker, and Jalen Chriesman, shared high scorer
honors with eight each. Shawn Stegall and Taylor Roberts had four each. Robert Montalvo had two.
Last Saturday, February 2, Sanderson
hosted the 10-A Junior High District Tournament.
The Lady Colts of Marathon won the tourney by defeating the Longhorns from Buena
Vista 40-20 in their first game and then edged the Red Devils of Rankin 36-34 for the title.
The junior Lady Eagles lost their first
game to Grandfalls 21 to 19 but came back to beat Buena Vista in their second game 14 to 4.
Isabel Rivera led the team in the first
game with ten, Daniela Garza pitched in five and Kayla Fuéntez and Ashley Haglegans had two each.
In the second game, Kayla Fuéntez
was high with six points, followed by Isabel Rivera with four and Daniela Garza and Ashley Hagelgans with a pair each.
Coach Leighton
Conway and his boys lost their first game in the tourney to Grandfalls by a score of 26 to 15.
Taylor Roberts took bragging rights
to high scorer with nine and adding two each were Chris McDonald, Robert Mon-talvo and Dryden Baker.
In the second game, the Junior
Eagles beat the Marathon Colts 32 to 28.
High scorer in that round was Shawn Stegall with eight, followed by Robert Montalvo
with six, Chris McDonald had five and sharing four each were Dryden Baker and Jalen Chriesman. Taylor Roberts chipped in three and
Daniel Luevano added two.
Last Friday, Feb. 1, Sanderson Varsity teams split with visiting Grandfalls.
The Lady Eagles came out victorious
with a huge win with a score of 70 to 11.
Senior Jenny Hernandez took home bragging rights when she scored a whopping 22 points.
Following
closely behind her was senior Hannah Black with 19. Blakeney Chriesman had ten, Miriam Nuñez had five while Sarah Sivils, Noemi Nuñez,
and Vicky Busch each had four. Adding two was Jessica Garza.
The Lady Eagles next week will meet the winner of a game tomorrow between
Dell City and Sierra Blanca.
The varsity boys didn’t fair as well, losing by a score of 37 to 23.
Sophomore Jacob Benavidez was high
with six, followed by Cordell Lawson with four. Adding three each were Jimmy Rapp, L.A. Galvan and Darren Seidel. Phillip Lascano
and Kelley Lomas each had a pair.
SANDERSON – The Terrell County Recreation Program recognized 30 children at the year-end awards banquet last week.
Awards were given
to the children and chili dogs were served to kids, parents and friends.
Organizer Tammy Truesdell welcomed those who came and told
the community that the next sport will be basketball, which she hopes to start a week after basketball season is over for the Sanderson
Eagles.
Due to a small number of kids, the boys and girls will learn about basketball together as they play co-ed.
They hope to play
this sport through the end of March, Truesdell said.
The awards were given for soccer, football and volleyball.
The Terrell County Rec
Program provides a chance for younger kids to play sports and learn fundamentals they otherwise might not learn until junior high.
Donations
are welcome and “coaches and volunteers are needed,” Truesdell said.
Receiving awards were Elias Hafner, Mikey Shoemaker, Joseph Carrasco,
Jacob Helmers, Andrew Portillo, James Castro, Santiago Gonzales, Luis Garza, Alexis Olivares and Jesse Roberts.
Also, Edwin Carrasco,
Austen “Cole” Stepp, Anthony Fuéntez, Jaime Rosas, Andrew Cavendar, Elijah Carrasco, Hunter Truesdell, Justin Flax and Luke Carroll.
And
Noah Aguilar, Sean Lopez, Cisco Fuéntez, Isaiah Stratton, Jayden Montalvo, Katie Jahn, Abby Carrasco, Grace Jahn, Laryn Carroll, Mariah
Aguilar and Olivia Adauto.
SANDERSON – An historical marker has been approved to mark the Terrell County Airport and will be in place as soon as the Terrell
County Historical Society agrees to wording now being prepared by the Texas Historical Society.
County Historical Society Marker Chair
Ann Kerr said there should be a big ceremony planned when the marker is unveiled.
A history of the airport prepared by former Airport
Board Chairman Lee Brandon was used to support the request for the marker.
Brandon noted Terrell County first came into the aeronautical
age on Oct. 26, 1911, when Cal Rodgers landed here on the first coast-to-cost flight in a Wright Brothers airplane dubbed the “Vin
Fizz,” named for the soft-drink company that sponsored the trek.
A piece of that airplane is on display at the Terrell County Museum.
The
next venture into aviation came eight years later when the 90th Aero Squadron was located west of Sanderson and for two years, the
ubiquitous deHavilland DH-4 trainer flew from the “aerodrome” for training and border patrol missions.
One of the young pilots assigned
to the squadron was Lt. Jimmy Doolittle, who later became a hero of World War II, flying the lead in the first US attack on Tokyo
in a fleet of two-engine B-25 bombers launched from the decks of aircraft carriers.
The field was re-located west of Dryden at the
site that later became the Indio Calzada ranch. One of the fliers to use that field was Arctic explorer Adm. Richard Byrd.
That field
was deactivated in 1941 but American Airlines had already eyed the county as a possible site for an intermediate or emergency field.
In
1943, the company purchased land from the Kerr and Standifer estates for less than $3,000 and that became what is now the Terrell
County Airport.
The field consists of two intersecting lighted and paved runways, each 4,525 feet long and 150 feet wide.
It was used
as a training field during World War II and later served as a base for Civil Air Patrol operations and for war games and summer training
for the Air Force Reserves.
Today, efforts are being made to improve the airport, currently the base for only one aircraft.
The field
has recently been resurfaced, such that a pilot of a light plane during a recent fly-in remarked the field “looks like DFW.”
A meeting
Monday afternoon in County Commissioners Court will explore options for future expansion.
AUSTIN – The winner of the 2007-2008 Texas Bluebonnet Award is “Down Girl and Sit: On the Road” by Lucy Nolan.
The second place vote
getter was “Ghost’s Grave” by Peg Kehret and third was “The Blue Ghost” by Marion Dane Bauer.
Junior high school students from across
the state participated in voting for the best Texas Bluebonnet Award book from a list of 20 nominees.
The students had a pizza party
after the voting and all received a certificate for participating in the program.
Sanderson students participating in the voting were Daniel Luevano, Kayla Fuéntez, Ryan Johnson, Abraham Orozco, Jalen Chriesman, Bailee Everett, Taylor Roberts, Mason Blackmon, Shawn Stegall, Ashely Hagelgans and Daniela Garza.
ALPINE – The Sanderson High School freshman class was represented by 15 students at the ‘TRIO’ meeting here Saturday.
Sanderson students
included Catherine Barron, Jonathan Calzada, Juliana Castro, Casey Couch, Lindsey Deason, L.A. Galvan, Ernestina Gonzales, Brianna
Johnson, Julianna Larrinaga, Cordell Lawson, Kelly Lomas, Noemi Nuñez, Valeria Orozco, Roxanna Rodriguez and Ralston Rosas.
The students
attended demonstrations and presentations organized by Sul Ross State University.
Each student received a t-shirt and meals and watched
a college basketball game while at Sul Ross.
Sponsors for the trip were mothers Cathy Lawson and Aurelia Galvan. Albert Peña was
the bus driver.
By KIM RAPP
SANDERSON – Henry Beth Hogg spent a week on the road recently. She went to Fort Stockton
to visit her sister Mamie Lee Harris, then to Hamilton for the funeral of her sister, Tilly Treadway.
After the funeral, she and Johnny
& Lorna Hogg of El Paso went to Plano to visit grandson Wes & Julie Hogg & family.
This week, Hogg went back to Fort Stockton
to attend a meeting of the Eastern Star.
Making the trip from Midland to watch the Eagles play their last game of the season
in Rankin were Daniel Rapp, Caleb Patterson and Emilio Rios.
These three guys attended SHS together throughout the years and are now
college roommates along with Rios’ brother Emigdio Rios.
Yolie Connelly went to Midland last week where granddaughter Ari Ybarra competed
in the Regional Symphonic Band competition.
Ari now plays second chair French horn at Monahans, one of the best bands in the area.
“It’s
incredible how these seventh and eighth graders work so hard,” Connelly told Chat. “It’s absolutely wonderful the time they put into
it.”
SONORA – Citing family reasons, Pecos Trail Regional Coordinator Keith Godwin has announced her resignation.
“I am leaving to be near
my elderly parents in Fort Worth but am sad about leaving the program and all the supportive and wonderful partners – like our
friends in Sanderson and Terrell Coun-ty,” she said. “The Texas Heritage Trails office in Austin is accepting applications now and
the TPTR board hopes to have a new coordinator in place by the first part of April.
“I am making myself available to
the board in March ‘by remote’ to help with the transition so that no partner in the Pecos Trail Region goes unheard.”
Godwinstarted with the Pecos Trail Region in November, 2006.
With more than 25 years experience in the tourism and hospitality industry,
she previously was the manager of the Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, of the sales department for the San Antonio
Convention Center and has worked in sales, marketing and management divisions for several hotels and resorts in Texas, New Mexico
and Central America.
Her last day with the TPTR will be February 29.
SANDERSON – Sanderson High School students are preparing for the annual UIL One Act Play.
Leighton Conway will direct the performance
of the play, “Vanities,” by Jack Heifner.
It is a story about three young ladies who grow up together throughout high school, college
and life after college.
They tackle issues of popularity and other life situations that Conway feels are still controversial today.
“It
is a good comedy and should be enjoyed by all,” Conway said.
Sporting their acting abilities will be Juliana Castro, Julianna Larrinaga
and Ashley Hernandez.
The crew will consist of stage manager Davis Stumberg, Travis Roberts who will man the lights, Casey Couch who
will be in charge of sound and Jimmy Rapp who will do whatever else is needed.
Alternates will be Alexa Davis, Brianna Johnson and
Taylor Johnson.
The first performance will be in Alpine on March 6 and the Zone competition will be March 13 at Rankin High School.
“They
will perform for the public here, but time and date is yet undetermined,” Conway told the News Leader.
FORT STOCKTON – Clayton Williams, Jr., will be “roasted” for the entertainment at the Fort Stockton Historical Society’s annual Wild
Game Dinner fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Pecos County Civic Center.
The event begins with a social at 6:30 p.m. and the buffet
dinner begins at 7 p.m.
The fundraiser benefits the non-profit Annie Riggs Memorial Museum at 301 South Main.
Tickets are $20 per person
purchased in advance or $25 purchased at the door.
Tickets are available at the museum or by calling 432/336-2167.
ALPINE – McDonald Observatory Director Dr. David L. Lambert will deliver the 20th annual Mary Thomas Marshall Lecture Tuesday, Feb.
12 at Sul Ross State University.
Lambert, the Isabel McCut-cheon Harte Centennial chair in astronomy at the University of Texas at
Austin, will address “Heaven’s Kitchens: Primordial Soup, Stellar Entrées and Galactic Dessert” at 7:30 p.m. in Marshall Auditorium.
There is no admission charge and the public is invited.
Lambert served as chair of the Department of Astronomy at the University of
Texas in 2002 and 2003.
Born and educated in England, he obtained a B.A. in Physics in 1960 and a Ph.D. in Solar Physics in 1965 from
the University of Oxford.
His contributions to research in astronomical spectroscopy have been recognized with numerous prestigious
awards and appointments, including a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship in 1980-81, the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics
from the American Institute of Physics and the American Astronomical Society in 1987 and the Henry Norris Russell Lectureship, the
top award of the American Astronomical Society, in 2007.
Lambert is one of the most productive and innovative astronomers in the world
with more than 450 publications during more than 35 years of research.
He has established the fields of Cosmochemistry and Galacto-chemodynamics
and continues to lead them.
His current research emphasizes precise analyses of the composition of evolved stars to determine how
the chemical elements are synthesized by stars, along with studies of the chemical evolution of the Galaxy as revealed by the chemical
composition of unevolved stars.
Lambert’s lecture represents the official “kick off” event for the Sul Ross Quality Enhancement Plan.
Sul
Ross student leaders chose the Milky Way as a logo and the name “Lobo Stars” for the plan.
Symbolizing teamwork and humility, as well
as the order of science that astronomy reveals, “Lobo Stars” represents a new vision for Sul Ross State University.
One part of the
plan focuses on using engagement with the West Texas outdoors, “Stars over La Frontera,” to enhance student critical thinking skills
in all academic disciplines.
Research has shown fairly conclusively that both student interest in, and their retention of, the subject
being taught increases when they are given opportunities for active learning.
Universities from Princeton to Texas Tech have recently
added extensive outdoor programs in order to capitalize on this discovery.
However, most of those universities are located in urban
areas.
With deer, javelina, wild turkey, pronghorn, raptors and numerous other forms of wildlife often traversing campus property, and with
a climate that supports outdoor learning year round, Sul Ross seems an ideal setting.
“Just as the Milky Way shines a little
brighter over West Texas, we believe that innovative thinking also has a better opportunity to shine at our small campus,” President
R. Vic Morgan said. “Our two greatest assets are our small size and our huge and beautiful natural surroundings.
“The time is right
to bring those together,” Morgan said. “I commend the QEP committee for envisioning that connection and for developing such an exciting
and challenging plan.”
One important natural asset unique to the low population area of West Texas is the dark night sky.
At present,
Sul Ross offers two courses in introductory astronomy.
With a modern multi-use planetarium already a focal point on the campus, expanding
astronomy as well as developing innovative connections to other courses such as mathematics, art, history, psychology, anthropology
and nature writing are possibilities for capitalizing on Sul Ross’ assets.
The Sul Ross State University Lecture Series was renamed
in 1985 to honor Mary Thomas Marshall, a good friend of the University.
On Feb. 21, 1992, the Board of Regents of the Texas State
University System approved renaming the Main Sul Ross Auditorium to the Marshall Auditorium in recognition of Marshall’s contributions
to the University.
Marshall’s interest in Sul Ross stemmed from time spent as a young woman in the Trans-Pecos area of West Texas and
from the longtime association of her sister-in-law, Stather Elliot Thomas, with the University as a member of the original faculty.