Big Bend Gazette

Beard, Killingsworth, Pallanez Sail to Re-Election in Brewster County Positions

Big Bend Gazette — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:30:03 -0600

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.

Our MARCH 2010 issue is out!

Big Bend Gazette — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:45:52 -0600

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NEA Honors Local Cowboy Poet Joel Nelson with 2009 National Heritage Award

Big Bend Gazette — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:49:29 -0600

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.

letters to the editor

Big Bend Gazette — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:06:22 -0600

The election for Brewster County Judge is not just between two leading members of our community, but also between two very different ideas about the use of government power.

Casa Hogar Orphanage's Abuelita Teda Neill

Big Bend Gazette — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:37:23 -0600

She first came to Casa Hogar in 1991, two years after it was started, and found the children living in a small, inadequate building. “I got acquainted with them,” she said. “And I kept coming down, and brought clothes, mattresses, whatever I could bring to help out.” by Camy Sorbello

Homeland Security Deportations of Illegal Immigrants from Mexico through Presidio Halted

Big Bend Gazette — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:48:08 -0600

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

lajitas stables now offering horseback riding adventures into big bend ranch state park

Big Bend Gazette — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:46:22 -0600

With the recent implementation of Big Bend Ranch State Park's comprehensive Public Use Plan has come significantly increased public access. Park officials have implemented a new outreach partnership with local outfitters as a part of that plan. The list of rides below are but a portion of the new programs now being offered to the public.

FBI to Investigate Terlingua Kidnapping, Sexual Assault, and Arson as Possible Hate Crime

Big Bend Gazette — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:36:13 -0600

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

Op-Ed: Concealed Carry Handguns Permitted in National Parks - Finally!

Big Bend Gazette — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:23:44 -0600

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

Big Bend People, Then and Now, Featured in New Photo History

Big Bend Gazette — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:17:07 -0600

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

A Desert Tale of Snow and Hummingbirds

Big Bend Gazette — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:07:33 -0600

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR re: Alpine Home Occupations

Big Bend Gazette — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:13:42 -0600

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

Two Suspects Held in Sunday Night South County Kidnapping and Sexual Assault

Big Bend Gazette — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:35:48 -0600

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)....

Big Tom & Marty

Big Bend Gazette — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:57:16 -0600

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

How I got My Grandchildren to Stop Text Messaging while Driving

Big Bend Gazette — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:06:50 -0600

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

¡Que Viva México! A jaunt across the bridge to Ojinaga on 20 November reveals a cultural celebration extraordinaire.

Big Bend Gazette — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:47:00 -0600

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

Gallery on the Square and new website are latest projects of regional artists' cooperative

Big Bend Gazette — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:42:00 -0600

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.

Thumbnotes, A Hitchiker’s Journal, part 10: Toyota of Iniquity

Big Bend Gazette — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:59:04 -0600

Fritz obviously feels bad about the incident and needed to tell someone, preferably a stranger. This is a service I often find myself providing to the people who give me a lift. I am The Road Priest, listening to tales of iniquity. It’s a metal confessional box on wheels. The difference is, I look my sinners in the eye. I want to tell Fritz to do twenty Hail Marys but I don’t know if that’s the right amount or even what a Hail Mary is exactly, so I just utter “That’s messed up, man.” and leave it at that. by Mark Kneeskern

Adoring Arizona

Big Bend Gazette — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:45:51 -0600

Yesterday I tried to make myself leave the house. I got as far as the bench on the front porch – and then I sat down quickly because from there the Catalina Mountains stood out from and above everything else, about thirty-five miles away from me. Clouds hung over them, like the rest of Tucson, but in places the sun would break through, as if to spotlight one peak, then another. The message was clear: Look at this—isn’t it fabulous? Now see this one—can you believe it? by Beth Garcia

Letters to the Editor (DEC. 09)

Big Bend Gazette — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:02:13 -0600

I would like to make a public confession. I have been officially indoctrinated into the Big Bend Old Fogies Suspected Terrorist Cell. Seriously.

Apply today for spring 2010: book grants available to Sul Ross students from Brewster, Jeff Davis, Presidio counties

Big Bend Gazette — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:17:02 -0600

The Book Grant program provides money to qualified Sul Ross students to help them purchase textbooks. Certain requirements apply. Qualified students must have graduated from a high school in Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties, have taken at least 24 semester credit hours of college work, maintain a 3.0 grade point average or better, and be a fulltime student in good standing at the university.

a jaunt in the mountains of Mitre Peak Girl Scout Camp

Big Bend Gazette — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:02:45 -0600

It turns out that Mitre Peak Girl Scout camp, just north of Alpine in the Davis Mountains, is available for day use and group rentals on the off-seasons.

Bill Bourbon Enters County Commissioner Race

Big Bend Gazette — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:42:06 -0600

Bourbon, who first made his candidacy public during an interview with The Gazette on Monday, Nov. 16, said he was running because of his “dissatisfaction with the current Commissioners Court and the lack of communication” from the court.

Customs & Border Patrol to Deport 34,000 Yearly Through Presidio

Big Bend Gazette — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:18:53 -0600

In an effort to disrupt human-trafficking, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) will bus will transport two busloads consisting of 94 Mexican Nationals, per day, caught illegally in Arizona, to the Port of Entry in Presidio. The transported individuals will then be released and allowed to walk across the international bridge to Mexico. by John Waters

Amercia's Best Idea, Almost Not

Big Bend Gazette — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:23:26 -0600

The number of people who sacrificed their fortunes, health and had to compromise their ideals in order to protect us from ourselves were considerable, and to them we owe a great debt. But until Burns told us, how many of us even knew their names? By Larry Francell

Terlingua Artist and Musician Bryn Moore showcased at the Greasewood Gallery in Marfa

Big Bend Gazette — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:59:14 -0600

This painting "Window on the World" was done by Terlinguan artist, musician, homebuilder, and gallery owner Bryn Moore, who will be exhibiting many of her works of art this month at the Hotel Paisano's Greasewood Gallery in Marfa.

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN A NATIONAL ADDRESS TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLCHILDREN

Big Bend Gazette — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:57:50 -0600

Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.

Biographical statement from Val Clark Beard, candidate for Brewster County Judge

Big Bend Gazette — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:29:01 -0600

Val Beard has served as Brewster County Judge since 1993. From 1983 – 1991, she was Brewster County Attorney. Beard is a Constitutional County Judge with both administrative and judicial authority. In addition to presiding over Commissioners Court, she has active probate, criminal and civil dockets. Brewster County, the largest County in Texas, is an exceptionally diverse, growing rural county.

Yearning For Zion Ranch Trials, Round Two

Big Bend Gazette — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:20:49 -0600

However, while the legal battle over the children was still in process, the Texas Attorney General launched a criminal investigation based on evidence indicating that at least some of the children had been born to underage mothers. CPS obtained DNA samples from all of the children and many of the FLDS adults and turned the samples over to the Attorney General’s Office, which says the test results confirm their suspicions. Based on this and other evidence seized during the raid, twelve male members of the FLDS were charged with criminal conduct ranging from Bigamy to Sexual Assault of a Child. Raymond Jessup is the first one of the twelve to be put on trial. By Steve Anderson

Big Bend Baptist Church Honors EMS Personnel and Educators

Big Bend Gazette — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:00:28 -0600

In late September the congregants at Big Bend Baptist Church provided fellowship and nourishment to the workers of Terlingua Fire & Emergency Medical Services and the educators at Terlingua CSD.