March 7, 2008
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SAN
ANTONIO – No Border Wall Coalition, No Wall – Big Bend Coalition and Reviva
Collective have announced that they are joining together with other
organizations nationwide in a call for a moratorium on the construction of
walls along the US-Mexico border. The
groups claim that the Department of Homeland Security’s border wall project
is politically motivated, that it will have no impact on immigration or
smuggling and will do nothing to protect the US from terrorism. Yet
the wall could have devastating consequences for the environment, the economy
and the communities of the border region, they say. Last
month, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff admitted that no potential terrorists
had ever been apprehended on the southern border and that he doesn’t “see any
imminent threat of terrorists infiltrating from Mexico.” However,
DHS has frequently referred to the imminent threat of “terrorists and
terrorist weapons” crossing the southern border in order to “justify the
breakneck speed of border wall construction,” No Wall – Big Bend co founder
Adrienne Evans said. Citing
the Border Patrol’s own statistics, illegal crossing of the Texas border has
decreased significantly between 2006 and 2007 including a 34 percent decrease
in the Rio Grande Valley Sector and a 46 percent decrease in the Del Rio
Sector. “By
contrast, the heavily fortified San Diego Sector, where a triple-layer wall
divides the border, saw a seven percent increase in illegal crossing,
suggesting that walls are not a meaningful deterrent for undocumented
crossers,” Evans said. A
June, 2007, Congressional Research Service report concluded that the walls in
San Diego had “no discernible impact” on the number of people entering the US
illegally, she said. “The
Border Patrol has also stated repeatedly that a wall only slows crossers down
by a few minutes,” Evans said. “The groups are also calling for an immediate
suspension and repeal of section 102 of the Real ID Act of 2005, which gives
Chertoff the power to waive all laws in order to build the border wall.
builds roads SANDERSON
– There is no legal border crossing between the United States and Mexico
anywhere near Terrell County but roads are being built up to the border just
inside Mexico, Sheriff Clint McDonald said this week. “They
are coming this way,” McDonald said. While
there are no border crossings, the drug cartels are building the highways so
they can smuggle their dope into the country more easily, he said. “You
can see the big D-8 bulldozers just across the river,” the sheriff said.
“They are building highways right up to the border.” McDonald
met with the Texas Joint Border Security Operation last week at the Steve
Forest ranch in eastern Terrell County. He
said the committee included State Reps. Warren Chisum of Pampa and Carl Isett
of Lubbock, Chief of Emergency Management Jack Colley, Department of Public
Safety Commissioner Beth Anderson, Steve McCraw from the governor’s office on
Homeland Security and three Texas Rangers. Terrell
County was also represented by County Judge Leo Smith, Commissioners Kenn
Norris and Charles Stegall and Justice of the Peace Abby Roberts. “They
are visiting with property owners in every county along the border to see
what the state can do to support the sheriffs offices,” McDonald said. “They
wanted a place close to the airport so they could fly in, have a meeting and
leave.” He
said the Forest ranch had the necessary facilities and the group flew in, ate
lunch at the ranch, had their meeting and left. “This
is the group I have been meeting with since I took office,” McDonald said.
“They do know where Terrell County is.” He
said the state has spent about half a million dollars on border security
through Operation Linebacker and “Type One” crime – essentially serious
felonies – is down by 67 percent along the border since 2005. “Clearly,
what we are doing is working,” he said. McDonald
said fences in urban areas, such as those proposed by the government in
places like Presidio, are complicating the law enforcement problem. As
a fence goes up in an urban area, the border crossings move to more rural
areas, complicating life for everyone else. “What
we don’t need are walls but more boots on the ground,” he said. “The ports of
entry are getting so busy, they are just waving them on through.” McDonald
said further checks on urban traffic just complicate it in the rural areas. Education
endowment established ALPINE – An
endowment offering scholarship opportunities and other incentives to
encourage students to pursue mathematics and science teacher education has
been established at Sul Ross State University. Through
a gift to the university, the Potts and Sibley Foundation of Midland provided
an opportunity to establish the Potts and Sibley Foundation Education Endowment
and Education Excellence Fund. Sul
Ross President R. Vic Morgan and Education Department Chair Dr. Tyra Manning
signed the agreement. Under
terms of the endowment agreement, funds may be allocated and expended for
promotion of activities of the Education Department for teacher preparation. Preference
will be given to programs, activities, awards and scholarships to promote
teacher preparation in the mathematics and science fields. Student
scholarship/award recipients must be pursuing the teacher preparation program
on the Alpine campus. “The
Potts and Sibley Foundation has been a consistent and generous contributor to
Sul Ross’ educational programs,” Morgan said. “We are pleased to honor them
with the establishment of this endowment that will support opportunities for
math and science education majors.” For
more information on endowments, contact Associate Vice President for Advancement
Leo Dominguez at 432/ 837-8033 or leodo@sulross.edu. |
“Such
power concentrated in the hands of an unelected official makes a mockery of
democratic processes,” she said. “The
only reason to waive the laws is because you intend to break them,” Texas
border resident Scott Nicol said. In
the hurricane-prone Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, as well as in Presidio,
plans are to build the wall on or near the flood control levees. “Yet,
there have been no studies published that describe what impact the proposed
wall would have on flooding or on the integrity of the levee system,” Evans
said. “DHS has continued to operate under the false assumption that the harsh
conditions of the desert are a deterrent for people seeking entry into the
US.” As
DHS builds walls in populated areas, desperation drives more people into
remote desert areas where they are more likely to die from dehydration and
exposure, she said. The
General Accounting Office found that, as walls have gone up, the number of
people who have died attempting to enter the US doubled between 1995 and
2005. MARATHON
– Hal Henthorne was elected president of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce
this week. Henthorne succeeds Neil Chavigny. Lloyd
Goldwire will serve as vice president and his wife Lauren will act as secretary. Jean
Hardy will remain as treasurer and Patsy Cavness will act as corresponding
secretary. Chamber
members also discussed several dates for upcoming events. The
Nature Fest may not happen this year. Lack of a leader and minimal sponsorship
are hampering efforts to make the event come alive for its third year. Anyone
interested in making this event happen should contact the chamber. Clean-Up
day is set for Saturday, April 1. The volunteer program is part of the statewide
Texas Trash-Off Day. Sign-up will begin at 9 a.m. at the Community Center. The
Marathon Museum Association met last month to cover general business items.
To visit the museum, pick up the key at Front Street Books during office
hours. The
date for this year’s WestFest has been set for Sept 20. The M2M date is Oct
18. The
next Brewster County Tourism meeting will be at the new Panther Junction
Visitors Center during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. May 1. For more
information contact Travis Roberts. The
Gage Hotel will host two Yoga workshops in August. The
next Brewster County Historical Society meeting will be the third Thursday in
May at the Brewster County Commissioners Court. poster
contest MARATHON
– Area children have been invited to design a poster for the Public Library’s
Spring Break poster contest. The
poster will be used to promote the Summer Reading Program, with a “Western/
Rodeo” theme this year as part of the “Texas Reading Club Jubilee, 1958 to
2008.” Participants
ranging in age from toddlers through the 12th grade are invited to come
to the library to draw a poster or pick up poster board to bring home. There
will be art supplies at the library. The
Spring Break poster contest will be March 17 to 20. Poster boards are now
available at the library. The
Marathon Public Library is a branch of Alpine Public Library in Brewster
County, Texas. It
is located at 106 N. Third Street East. The telephone number is 432/386-4136. on
WSJ editorial AUSTIN
– Gov. Rick Perry noted this week that the Wall Street Journal had touted Texas’ notable economic
strength and vigor in the wake of a national economic slow-down. The
paper compared Texas and Ohio on the day before the March 4 primary election
in the two states and noted factors such as low taxes, “right to work state
status and an affordable cost of living” gave Texas “a competitive edge for
21st century global competition.” Texas
significantly bested Ohio in new job creation, net domestic migration, unemployment
rates, per capita income and exports. “We
live in a world that moves faster than at any time in history,” Perry said.
“Knowledge and capital are rapidly being deployed to parts of the world where
the right combination of talent, technology, business climate, infrastructure
and markets converge. I believe Texas is that place, now more than ever.” He
said Texas led the nation in exports for the sixth consecutive year, totaling
$168 billion, and generating tens of thousands of jobs in 2007. The
state’s largest export market continued to be its partners in the North
American Free Trade Agreement, which accounted for approximately 43.4 percent
of total state exports during 2007. “This
statistic refutes arguments against the trade opportunities made possible by
NAFTA,” Perry said. “The Wall Street
Journal writes ‘Anti-NAFTA rhetoric doesn’t play well in El Paso, San
Antonio and Houston, which have become gateway cities for commerce with Latin
America and have flourished since the North American Free Trade Agreement
passed Congress in 1993.’ “In
fact, Texas is a top-ranked global destination for foreign direct
investment,” Perry said. “In 2006, Texas ranked third nationally for the
number of ‘in sourcing’ jobs with 345,000 Texans employed by foreign-owned companies.” He
said foreign and domestic investment in Texas has reached “monumental levels”
and said those factors “have lured the likes of Toyota, Samsung, General
Motors and others to the Lone Star State. “Let’s
start with the fact that Texas’ growth puts the lie to the myth that free
trade costs American jobs,” Perry said. Democratic presidential candidate
Barack “Obama’s claim of one million lost jobs due to trade deals is
laughable in Texas, the state most affected by NAFTA. “Texas
has gained 36,000 manufacturing jobs since 2004 and has ranked as the
nation’s top exporting state for six years in a row,” he said. “Its $168
billion of exports in 2007 translate into tens of thousands of jobs.” He
said Midwest states like Ohio, Indiana and Michigan are losing auto jobs but
many of the “runaway plants” are not fleeing to China, Mexico or India. “They’ve
moved to more business-friendly US states, including Texas,” he said. “GM
recently announced plans for a new plant to build hybrid cars. Guess where?
Near Dallas.” |
“This is an ongoing humanitarian crisis
that requires an immediate solution,” Evans said. “It is irresponsible to
erect a permanent wall without full knowledge of what those consequences will
be. “DHS’s
blind rush to draw lines on a map, heedless of the consequences on the
ground, makes a moratorium on border wall construction imperative,” she said.
“Congress must take the time to evaluate the serious costs and impacts of the
border wall and to determine whether it is in fact the best way to address
the complex issues of immigration and national security.” Colts
win three events at relay SANDERSON
– Three Marathon Colts brought home four first-place wins at the Rio Grande
Relays here last weekend. Christopher
Stevens took home two first place honors and a third place. The
junior high Colts placed fourth in the boys overall with 53 points and the
Colt girls placed seventh with 26 points out of the 10 schools that attended. Christopher
placed first in the long jump, leaping 15 feet, 11 and a half inches, and
first in the triple jump, flying 32 feet, 10 and three quarter inches. Christopher
also placed third in the 400-meter dash, clocking in at 1:02.44. Zach
Gonzales placed first in the 200-meter dash, crossing the line in 26.68. He
also won second place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.30. In
girls Colts action, Krystal Aguilar won first place in the 100-meter dash,
finishing the race in 13.96. Krystal
also won second place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 29.27 and another
second place win for the long jump, with a distance of 13 feet, three and a
half inches. Omar
Grano won second place in the long jump, sailing 15 feet, 11 and three quarter
inches. He
also won sixth place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 28.05. Also
participating were Micela Grano and Libby Hernandez. In
high school action, Crystal Ybarra ran her way to a second place win in the
400-meter dash, crossing the line in 1:08.20. Other
Mustangs competing were Celestine Garcia and Devin Kolesar. The
athletes are coached by Gene Peña. Bass
to show at Greasewood Gallery MARFA
– Greasewood Gallery at the Hotel Paisano will host a new exhibit, “West Texas Paintings,” by David Loren Bass beginning March
12. There will be an artist’s reception from 6 to 8 p.m. March 14. A
nationally recognized artist, Bass makes his home in Santa Fe, NM, with
additional studios in San Anselmo, CA and Wilmington, NC. Bass
exhibits both oil and watercolor paintings. His subjects range from northern
New Mexico and the Big Bend Region of southwest Texas to Key West, FL, Marin
County, CA, and beyond. With
his paintings Bass conveys a lived experience, either on site of the subject
or recalled later in the studio. “I
paint directly on site beginning with a compositional drawing and then
proceed to paint the subject to a point where it ceases being a replication
and transforms into a painting of my experience based in the qualities of the
paint and how I manipulate its character,” Bass said. His
paintings feature strong structural composition, high-keyed colors, energetic
brushstrokes and fluid movement. Bass’
“West Texas Paintings” have
been exhibited at the Bass-Thomson Gallery in Santa Fe and at the Museum of
the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. His
work is currently featured in the Trappings of Texas exhibit at SRSU. Greasewood
Gallery at the Hotel Paisano is at 207 North Highland. Gallery hours are 9
a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through
Saturday. For
more information, contact Gallery Director Vicki Lynn Barge at 432/729-4134
or vicki_barge@yahoo.com. MARATHON
– Evelyn Hughett has re-opened “Antiques & Collectibles and This and
That” across the street from the TransPecos Bank and the Gage Hotel. “I
have to work, I’m a busy person,” the 85-year-old Hughett said. ”When I’m not
at the store, I’m writing poetry or feeding the birds. I go through 20 pounds
of bird feed a week. “The
birds know my car and they know my voice,” she said. “You can set your clock
by their visits. They come four times a day. There’s about 130 birds in all
from what I count, including four types of quail.” Hughett,
who spent 75 years in Ohio, is the mother of Gordon Hughett of Marathon. She
provided the News Leader with one of her recent poems, titled “Home
Entertainment:” Here
I am sitting in my easy chair – Must
go outside, not just stare. To
me the winter, has been such delight Although
barely any white Everyday
I seem in real contentment but
today so windy and cold but
I’m very bold! And have an
unusual family – I’m told! Not
the original kind – But
birds, large and small now
they are calling me First
the Brown Sparrows, Then
the Loving Doves, never fighting This
I love. Along
come the quail They
think I’m their momma! |