April 25, 2008
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By R.M. GLOVER MNL Editor MARATHON
– “You don’t need a bike to join us,” Ruben Gonzales said from his chair at
the bar of The Oasis Café. “Chile verde, hamburgers, beer, music and Harleys.
You can’t beat that, man.” He
wore a black skullcap with red, orange and yellow chiles. Boxes of Tecate
beer were stacked on the bar and a poster of pearly-white Harley-Davidson
motorcycles covered the front wall. His
black mustache quirked. “Bring
your kids,” he said. “The Hamburgers are free.” Gonzales
was talking about this weekend’s Los Jaks MC biker bash at The Oasis. It
starts tonight, April 25, and goes all weekend. For the riders there’ll be a
Poker Run, A Slow Mo and a Weenie Bite. All
proceeds benefit St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Los
Jaks is a motorcycle club started in Marathon several years ago. All 12
members ride Harley Davidsons. “But
we’re open to any kind of bike,” Gonzales said. “I had a Honda but I gave it
to my son. Now I ride a Dyna Super-Glide with the Evo motor.” He
rubbed the gold chain on his neck. “I
love that machine,” he said. Gonzales handed me a Tecate. The
Monday night dinner crowd was streaming in. The locals waved. The tourists
weren’t sure which door to use. Then
Marilyn Shackleford stopped by. “Ruben,
who’s cooking tonight?” she asked. “Don’t
worry,” Gonzales said. “I’m going to fix you some good beans.” She
laughed and walked to the restaurant wing. Gonzales
is also Marathon’s Constable. He’s in his third term and up for re-election
in November. “Un-contested,”
he said. “The job is all about civil process. Serving papers and other
official duties.” A couple walked in holding hands. He was in
khaki pants and a tucked in blue polo shirt. She was wearing a long cotton
chiffon. MARATHON
– Weather permitting, the 12th annual quilt show will be from 1 to 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 3, at the Gage Hotel Courtyard. In
case the weather is bad, the show will be moved to the Community Center next
to the Marathon Fire Station. “Because
of the surrounding area’s participation last year, we had one of the most successful
shows we’ve ever had,” Organizer Connie Springfield said. “We would like to
extend a personal invitation to you to join us and enter your beautiful
quilts in our show.” There
will be a drawing for a quilt at 3:00 p.m.
The
Flying Geese quilt was pieced by Janie Roberts and is currently being quilted
by the Marathon Basin Quilter’s Guild. Tickets
for the drawing are $1 each and you do not have to be present to win. Door
prizes will be awarded every 30 minutes during the show. “It
should be a really fun afternoon,” Springfield said. Categories
include traditional, contemporary, watercolor, theme, pictorial, preprinted,
appliqué, machine-quilted, lap and baby items, paper-pieced, miscellaneous,
tied quilts, quilt tops, quilt blocks 4” to 22,” wall-hangings and novelty. Ribbons
will be awarded for first through third place in each of the 12 categories as
well as “Grand Champion” ribbon chosen by judges. A
new ribbon will be awarded this year for the “People’s Choice” quilt through
popular ballot by attendees. Quilts
must be registered between 10 a.m. 12 noon on the day of the show, Saturday,
May 3. Registration will be closed at
noon. All Entries must be clean, odor-free and in
good condition. Quilts
entered in previous Marathon quilt shows may not be entered again unless an entry
was entered as an “unfinished” quilt top in a previous show and has now been
quilted and completed. At
least one entry per entrant in will be displayed in each category along with
as many additional entries as space will allow. For
more information, call quilt guild member Patsy Cavness at 432/386-4288 or
the Marathon Chamber of Commerce at 432/386-4516. ALPINE
– The 2008 Pioneer Day celebration, sponsored by Historic Alpine, will be
from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, April 26, in the downtown depot
parking lot here. The
program, beginning at 12:15 p.m., will feature a Wall of Pioneer progress
report, followed by a number of family biographies presented by pioneer
descendants. A
brisket plate lunch, benefiting the final phase of wall construction, will be
served during the celebration. When
complete, the wall will feature several hundred individual plaques
identifying pioneer families and brief histories of Brewster County and Alpine.
To
date, the project has been supported through the sale of personalized bricks,
which are embedded in the sidewalk along the street side of the wall. The
bricks, at a cost of $50 each, can be purchased at the event. In
April 2007, the City of Alpine and Brewster County proclaimed the last week
in April as “Pioneer Week” to honor families that settled in Brewster County
at or before the turn of the century. Pioneer
Week begins with “Pioneer Day” on the last Saturday of April and ends with a
weekend celebration of Cinco de Mayo. For
more information, contact Dennie Miller at 432/837-8813 or dmiller@sulross.edu. wins
award MARFA
— Presidio County has received a Merit Award from the Texas Historical Commission
through its Texas Courthouse Stewardship Program. The award was for establishing good stewardship practices in
maintaining its restored historic courthouse. The $5,000 award was announced at the two-day Texas Courthouse
Stewardship in Austin Workshop recently. Both the workshop and
award were made possible by a grant from the Texas Land Title Association. “In addition to bringing recognition to Presidio County, the
award is an incentive to other counties with newly restored courthouses to
develop a maintenance plan, secure adequate funding for maintenance and
assure quality workmanship,” Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program
Director Stan Graves said. As the second courthouse rededicated through the THC’s Texas
Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, Presidio County has demonstrated
both vision and common sense in restoring and maintaining the landmark, he
said. Presidio County’s team of County Judge Jerry Agan, Administrative
Assistant Marge Hughes and Maintenance Superintendent Frank Quintanar were
noted by the THC for their dedication to building care and maintenance. The Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program was established
in 1999 by Gov. George W. Bush and the Texas Legislature to restore Texas’
county courthouse to their original splendor and make them safe, functional
and a source of pride for Texas communities. The THC created and administers the $207 million program, which
has generated more than 6,240 jobs and almost $173 million in local income. |
They
walked past the bar and into the restaurant. “Seventy-five
per cent of my business is tourists,” Gonzales said. Gonzales
was born and raised in Marathon. As a kid he spent a lot of time at The Post.
“We’d
walk there. Across the pastures, it was faster,” Gonzales said. “Fish and
swim all day.” One
of Gonzales’s first jobs in Marathon was working as a service station
attendant. “There
were four gas stations then,” he said. “By the 1970’s there were seven.” Later
he got a tortilla route. “Thirty-nine cents a dozen, and gas was
eighty-seven cents a gallon,” he said. “I had stops in Terlingua, Alpine,
Presidio, Redford, Balmorhea. I was always asking questions, thinking one of
these days I’ll open my own restaurant.” By ANDREA JOHNSON Special to
the News Leader MARATHON
– We’ve been harvesting our first real “cash crop” from our little garden,
planted by Marathon Elementary students and volunteers. PreK and kindergarten teacher LaVerne Avery
purchased onion seeds a few months ago.
We’ve
been pulling a few at a time to sell at the French Co. Grocer where owner
Marci Roberts has added a red bucket to her produce case for us. She
made a sign that says, "Grown by Marathon Elementary students – leave a
donation at the register.” The
elementary garden has quadrupled in size and the middle school is putting in
a garden next to it that is another 32 feet long and eight feet wide. The middle school students, along with
science teacher Becky Stallard and custodian Javiar Pinedo, brought sand and
more railroad ties. Clint Roberts used his backhoe to move in
more soil and manure. The
elementary school has put in a pretty large pumpkin patch and Avery’s class
and has planted beans, squash, carrots, a pepper plant and a couple of tomato
plants. But
three deer jumped the fence over the weekend and ate the pepper plant. They chewed on the tomato plants and the
leaves of the fruit trees we planted in the fall. Every
day has been a new experience. By ANDREA JOHNSON Special to
the News Leader MARATHON
– Marathon Elementary students raised $970.61 for St. Jude’s Children’s
Hospital during their Bike-a-Thon here recently. Top fundraiser was Tristyn Galindo with
$140. Alexya Grano, Isaac Briones and Alexis Bowers each turned in more than
$100. These
students, along with Zane Roberts, will receive a backpack from St. Jude’s as
thanks for their efforts. Jeremy Ramirez, Dominic Paredez, Joshua
Guzman, Giana Gonzales, Monique Pineda, Jesse Lopez, Alyssa Olvera, Noah
Lopez, Cameden Lujan and Sarah Arenas will receive a t-shirt from the
hospital. St.
Jude’s, of Memphis, TN, was founded by comedian Danny Thomas. It
is a research hospital that exists primarily on donations and specializes in
research into cancer and children’s diseases. No
patient is ever turned away because of an inability to pay. comes
to McDonald FORT
DAVIS – Earth Day was this week and McDonald Observatory plans to add a new
eco-friendly facility, award-winning solar-powered house dubbed “BLOOMhouse.” Students
in The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture designed and
built the BLOOMhouse to compete in last year’s Solar Decathlon, a biennial
event sponsored by the Department of Energy, BP Solar, the American Institute
of Architects and Sprint. They
set the house up on the National Mall in Washington, DC, to compete against
solar homes from 19 other colleges and universities from around the world. The
BLOOMhouse generates all of its own power for its 550 square feet. It
placed first in the Solar Decathlon for use of hot water. It was second in
engineering, and did well in several other judged categories. The
house also won BP Solar’s design award, for which seven universities submitted
design plans that met specific criteria for commercial, economic, technical
and overall efficient design aspects. The
prize was state-of-the-art solar panels for the house that were not yet
available in the US market. Next
month, students from the BLOOMhouse team will travel to McDonald Observatory
to reconstruct the house on the Mount Locke site of the decommissioned Millimeter
Wave Telescope. It
will be used for staff housing and faculty from UT’s School of Architecture
will continue to study the home’s energy efficiency. Future
plans include an updated display at the Frank N. Bash Visitors Center to
feature information on the BLOOMhouse and solar energy. Information
about the Sun is on display daily at McDonald Observatory, as visitors both
tour the “Our Star, the Sun” exhibit and safely view the Sun live from a
theater in the Visitors Center. And
in the “Live, from McDonald Observatory” program, kids across Texas learn
about the Sun through interactive videoconferences between classrooms and the
observatory. The
installation of the BLOOMhouse forges one more link in the chain connecting
McDonald Observatory to the stars. for
Sheehan ALPINE
-- For Dr. Wayne Sheehan, impending retirement means devoting more time to
some of his favorite interests – granddaughters Madeleine and Natalie and
baseball research. Sheehan leaves at the end of the spring semester, capping 32
years at Sul Ross and 40 in higher education. He presently serves as Sul Ross professor of History. The Sheehan family will host a retirement reception at 6 p.m.
Friday, May 2, at Kokernot Lodge. Sheehan will continue working through mid-July, mentoring three
McNair Program Scholars, assisting them in developing and completing a
research project. In addition, he is combining his own love of history and
baseball to write a history of the sport in his hometown of Kankakee, Ill. “It has been a good long run,” he said of his Sul Ross tenure.
“I’ve taught a few children of some of my first students and, in some cases,
I may be getting close to teaching grandchildren. “Just the other day, I heard from a former student at Albion
[MI] College where I started teaching in 1967,” he said. His teaching has been recognized by former students and
colleagues alike. He received Sul Ross’ Outstanding Teaching Award in 2006 for the
second time since its inception in 1983. The popular history professor was previously honored in 1990. He
won a similar award at Albion College in 1970. In 1986, he was named a Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens
Piper Foundation for outstanding scholarly and academic achievement in Texas.
He was also named an American Association for Higher Education
faculty honoree that year. “I think what I know is exciting,” he said. “I like history and
I think learning should be exciting. “Teaching history at Sul Ross requires versatility,” Sheehan
said. “There is so much history to be taught and not many people to do it.” While at Sul Ross, Sheehan developed courses in the history of
Nazi Germany and the Holocaust and new courses in American sports history. In 2004, he received a fellowship to study at the US Holocaust
Museum in Washington, DC. In 1983, he started the Sul Ross European Study Program and led
subsequent trips to Europe in 1990 and 1992 with now-retired faculty member
Roy Dodson and in 2005 with Dr. Jim Case, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. |
Ruben and his wife Coy opened The Oasis
Restaurant and Bar in 1995. They
opened a second restaurant this year, next to the Gage Hotel called, “Johnny
B’s.” “Business
is good,” Gonzales said. He grinned. “I like my job.” A Bud Light poster covered the wall behind him. SANDERSON
– The Big Bend Open Road Race, an event that bills itself as “the most
challenging open road race in the world,” is tomorrow between Fort Stockton
and here. Race
Director Randy Archer said at press time that “about 155” cars had been
entered in the race, close to the goal of 160 cars set earlier. “Some
of them may fall out and there may be some others,” he said. “We’ll be right
at 152 or so.” Because
of an apparent misunderstanding, the race was canceled in February but then
reinstated. The
cutoff was 150 cars last year and there were some in reserve waiting for a
spot to open. The cutoff was increased this year to 160 cars. In
all but the unlimited class, drivers compete on who can come closest to the
posted speed for their class. They can lose points for going too fast as well
as too slow. Dave
Carpenter and Scott Cardwell of Parker, CO, will drive their 1999 Pontiac
Grand Prix in the unlimited class. The
car is known as the “M&M Car” because of its sponsor, the popular candy. The
car did not start last year because of a mechanical problem. Charlie
Friend of Alamogordo, NM, said Wednesday he will run in the unlimited class
as well, moving up from the 155 mile-per-hour class a year ago. The
other unlimited entry was Joel Hanning of Silver City, NM, and his 1962 Dodge
Polara. Friend
told the News Leader Hanning was not able to run this year because of
a mechanical problem. Sanderson
will be represented by Bobby Stegall, racing a 1986 Ford 250 pickup, powered
by a 6.9-liter diesel engine with a Banks turbocharger. Stegall
and Brian Hinkley have run in earlier races in a 1962 Chevrolet pickup. The
event began Wednesday morning with registration, technical inspections and
rookie school at the Terrell County Courthouse and Community Building. Qualifying
and practice runs were between Lomita Terrace in west Sanderson ten miles
west on US Highway 90 to the roadside park and back. The
activities continued yesterday, capped by a reception in the Pavilion at
Bicentennial Park, sponsored by the Sanderson Chamber of Commerce with
support from the BBORR committee. Today,
April 25, activities move 65 miles north to Fort Stockton for continued
registration and technical inspections, optional tours of the area and driver
schools. At
4 p.m., the cars will all gather at Zero Stone Park at Main and Callaghan for
a car show followed by a parade at 5:30 p.m. down Dickinson Street. There
will be a final meeting of course workers at 6:30 p.m. for gate assignments. The
big day is tomorrow when the some 150 cars line up at US Highway 285 and Mockingbird
Lane in Fort Stockton. They
will leave, one at a time, for the 59-mile course to Downie Arena north of Sanderson. Drivers
will all gather at the Terrell County Courthouse lawn for lunch and rest
before the second leg in the afternoon. Sanderson
Coordinator Dale Lascano has promised a real family outing tomorrow, starting
at 9 a.m. “We
want it to be fun for the whole family on courthouse lawn,” said. “We want
everyone to feel extremely welcome.” During
the turnaround, people can see the racecars “up close and personal” and visit
with race crews. Members
of the First Baptist Youth Group will be on hand to clean dirty windshields
for donations. A number of vendors for food, gifts and games will also be on
hand. The
racers will line up after lunch, again at Downie Arena for the second 59-mile
lap back to Fort Stockton. There
will be a post-race party for the public at Rooney Park. Tomorrow
night is the awards banquet at 7:30 p.m. in the Pecos County Civic Center. in
Alamo City MARATHON
– New work by James Evans will premier at the Rendon Photography
and Fine Art Gallery in San Antonio next weekend. The
new collection is entitled “Rock, Paper, Scissors.” The
gallery will host an opening reception with the artist from 6:30 pm to 9:30
pm. Friday May 2. The
show remains available for viewing in the gallery at 733 S. Alamo through
June 27. For
more information call 210/288-4900. MARATHON
– The Marathon Health Care Clinic has been providing health care to Marathon
for 10 years now and the anniversary last week was marked by an ice cream
social. Jo
Ann Lister, Isabelle Shackelford and Ruth Spitzer said thank you to the community
and board members with ice cream and sugar-free sherbet. Several
staff members of Big Bend Regional Medical Center of Alpine were in
attendance to show their support. Among
those were Chief Financial Officer Tim Howard and Head of Information Systems
Gilberto Gomez. Gomez
is working to get the clinic on-line with the hospital. The
clinic is open Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and from 2
p.m. to 5 p.m. Dr.
James Luecke of Alpine comes every other week to see patients. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheehan has been an active part of both the Sul Ross and Alpine
community since he joined the faculty in 1976. In 2006, he stepped down as faculty athletics representative
after serving since 1979 and has been the official scorer for baseball and
men’s and women’s basketball games. In addition, he has served as the official timekeeper at Lobo
football games so he has probably witnessed well over 1,000 home athletics
contests. He has served as faculty adviser for a number of student organizations
and has received the Club Adviser of the Year award. Named Alpine’s Citizen of the Year in 2004, Sheehan has served
as president of the Alpine PTA and has been active in numerous groups. His volunteer efforts
include the Alpine Kiwanis, Permian Basin Girl Scout Council, several
terms with the Big Bend Little League and the Alpine Volunteer Fire
Department. He continues to stay active with the Bechtel Foundation, which
awards book scholarships to area students. A native of Kankakee, he graduated from St. Patrick Central High
School in 1958. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University
in 1962, a master’s degree in 1965
and Ph.D. in 1975 from the University of Maryland. He previously taught at Albion College from 1967 to 1972 and was
a research fellow at the Institute of Historical Research in London, England
from 1972 to 1974. He and his wife, Mary Louise, are the parents of two daughters,
Kathryn (1967-1985) and Patricia. Patricia, her husband Tom Dickinson and
daughters Madeleine and Natalie are also Alpine residents. |