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The annual Alpine Earth Day Festival will take place this Saturday, April 24th, at the Alpine Community Center, 402 East Gallego Ave., from 10 am until 4 pm. Over 25 different local organizations and businesses will be on hand to celebrate sustainable living in the Big Bend. This year's event is being sponsored by the City of Alpine Environmental Advisory Board.   more »

Spring has come to the Big Bend... by Teri Smith    more »

"April 14: After a 1.75 inch rain a vivid double rainbow formed over Terlingua. It was still raining
lightly when this picture was taken. The rainbow was huge stretching a full 180 degrees across the sky. Brightest we have ever seen." - Dave & Virginia Fricker

This photo, by Larry Hodge, was taken "at the mouth of the Pecos (just west of it) overlooking the Rio Grande. The ocotillo is unbelievable and the cenizo will be coming on."

Women of the Big Bend will have digital mammography available to them once again. Call Desert Imaging (800) 466-4411 or (915) 577-0100 to schedule your appointment. Sliding scale for cash; insurance accepted. This is a great service, and a great experience to go through Desert Imaging for this procedure, sayeth your faithful editor. Please help spread the word.

In unofficial election results released today by the Brewster County Election’s office, Judge Val Beard soundly defeated her challenger Dr. Avinash Rangra, garnering 1078 votes to Rangra’s 723. Beard captured 59.85 percent of the vote compared with Rangra’s 40.1 percent.   more »

Joel Nelson, cowboy poet from Alpine and one of the founders of the Texas Poetry Gathering, was awarded one of the prestigious National Heritage Awards of 2009 by the National Endowment for the Arts. The following is part of an interview with Nelson by Josephine Reed, for the NEA, reprinted with permission from the NEA.   more »

Last week Marfa Border Patrol Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Smietana told a gathering in Lajitas of the Texas Border Sheriffs’ Coalition that the Alien Transfer and Exit Program has been halted effective December 31. by John Waters    more »

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the alleged sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery and arson that took place in Terlingua on December 6, as a possible hate-crime. The hate-crime provision may be invoked given that the attack seems to have been motivated by perceived sexual orientation of the victim. By John Waters    more »

Since 1996, licensed citizens have been carrying concealed handguns all over Texas. The “blood running in the streets” and “return to the old west” concerns of the anti-gun contingent have not come to fruition…neither in Texas or any other right-to-carry state. Anyone who has taken the required training course, will probably tell you that they came away from it with the fervent hope that they would never have to use their weapon. If for no other reason, than the legal entanglements that even a self defense shooting involves. One instructor told me, “When you pull that trigger, you’ve spent at least a hundred thousand dollars, even if you’re 100% in the right." by Don Cadden    more »

Not a comprehensive history of the region, this is the sort of book that will appeal to lovers of Big Bend, admirers of tenacious spirits, and anyone enchanted by ephemeral faces suspended in old photographs. by Megan Wilde    more »

The flip side of this feat, though, is that the hummers need to fire up quickly in the morning. This means they must start feeding to replenish their energy reserves. If you have conditioned a hummingbird to come to a feeder, that’s where it’s headed first thing, looking for the quick sugar fix. Here’s the catch: adding sugar to water lowers the water’s freezing temperature.... by Mark Flippo    more »

Flexibility regarding home-based occupations would be accomplished by adopting clear and concise language such as: "Home occupations, including limited wholesale and/or retail sales, are permissible. Activities related to the home occupation that does not generate noticeably greater traffic, noise, or other nuisances, and/or hazardous conditions are permissible. The home occupation is acceptable as long as   more »

On the evening of Sunday, December 6, an 18-year-old male from Terlingua was allegedly physically assaulted outside the Boathouse Bar and Restaurant in the Terlingua Ghost Town, kidnapped, and driven in his own vehicle to a remote south Brewster County location where he was sexually assaulted.... UPDATE: A fund has been set up to raise money for the victim. And On Dec. 17, both suspects in the case were served with the following charges: 1) Aggravated Sexual Assault - 1st degree felony (75,000 bond)....   more »

Marjean unfolded the metal chair she kept near the door for the occasional dishwasher or waitress who needed to smoke and sat in it. The thought crossed her mind that she might take up that nasty habit if it would help, but it really was too late. She shook her head. The newly cut edges of her graying black hair brushed her neck. The new style hadn’t helped, nor had the fact that last week she’d learned Pete Wilson’s will gave her the Coffee Pot free and clear of debt. by Jacqueline Siglin    more »

The media reports that research shows text-messaging while driving is more dangerous than driving while under the influence of alcohol. Scary stuff. Six of my nine grandchildren drive. by George Pitlik    more »

Ojinaga has a population of about 30,000 and put on a parade which was well beyond the scope of its numbers. I assumed I could arrive a few minutes before parade time, grab a good spot, watch the festivities, and be done in an hour. Boy, was I wrong. Downtown was thick with people, marchers, and floats. I was lucky to find a parking place and found it even harder to get a good spot to watch the parade at the plaza. People had obviously been holding their places for some time. It lasted over two hours. Every school in town had worked to construct ornately beautiful floats pulled by semi trucks, intricately depicting revolutionary scenes. by Pilar Pedersen    more »

The gallery is located in the “Old Town Square” row of buildings on the corner of N. 5th Street and Sul Ross Avenue, and is open 11 am to 5:30 pm Wednesday through Sunday, with alterations for major holidays.   more »