WHO DONE IT? – Students in Coach Joe Valenzuela’s bio-technology class are learning how to extract DNA, the gene fingerprint used
frequently in crime investigation cases as well as paternity questions and others. In lab coats ready to extract were, from left,
Cito Hernandez, Prissy Hernandez – no relation – Irene Ureste and Crystal Ramirez.
MIDLAND – An old-fashioned West Texas dust storm blew through the area – literally – Tuesday, closing roads and limiting visibility
over a wide area and causing at least one fatality.
Over a wider area, tornadoes ravaged parts of Oklahoma, killing eight in Lone Grove
near Ardmore, hometown of Teresa Smith, CEO of Cactus Health Services of Sanderson.
Smith said her family survived the storm but she
did not know if she had friends among the victims.
Four 18-wheel trucks and a Honda Accord were involved in a collision at the height
of the dust storm on Interstate 10 near Balmorhea, killing one and injuring one other.
Terri Logan Trest, 59, of Soley AL, was killed
in the accident and her husband, William James Trest, was airlifted to Odessa Medical Center where he was reported in “stable” condition
Wednesday.
Some reports had said as many as 15 vehicles were involved but the Department of Public Safety recorded only the five vehicles.
Robert
Halpern, publisher of the Big Bend Sentinel in Marfa, reported that State Highway 17 was closed between Marfa and Fort Davis.
Students learn about DNA
By CRYSTAL RAMIREZ
Special to the News Leader
MARATHON – Visitors to Coach Joe Valenzuela’s first period bio-technology
class at Marathon High School these days might think they have walked onto the set of a popular television show such as CSI or NCIS.
Eight students are working on learning how to extract and identify DNA.
We are excited and inspired about actually getting to use a hands-on approach to study this cutting-edge branch of bio-technology.
Read more...Brewster County Judge
Val Beard
P. O. Box 1630
Alpine, TX 79831
432/819-2412
Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson
201 W. Ave
E.
Alpine, TX 79830
432/837-3488
County Commissioner
Ruben Ortega
P. O. Box 233
Marathon. TX 79842
432-294- J 096
Marathon
ISD Superintendent Conrad Arriola
N. 5th Street
Marathon. TX 79842
432/386-4431
Terrell County Judge
Leo Smith
P. O. Box 4810
432/345-2421
Terrell County Sheriff
Clint McDonald
P. O. Box 320
Sanderson, TX 79848
432/345-2525
Terrell County
ISD Superintendent
Gary Hamilton
P.O. Box 747
Sanderson, TX 79848
432/345-2515
By MARK GLOVER
Contributing Editor
BIG BEND – The annual Pioneer Reunion at Panther Junction in the Big Bend National Park Saturday focused for the first time in its 20-year history on the Mexican side of the story.
Recounting the pioneer experiences of Mexican Families on both sides of the Rio Bravo/Rio Grande, speaker by speaker offered untold and often sensitive stories of the relationships of Mexicans
Defense of fire threat suggested
SANDERSON – With a scant 12 hundredths of an inch of rain all year here and high winds, fire danger
throughout Southwest Texas is extremely high this year.
“This fire season, perhaps landowners should to take a ‘defensive driving’ perspective on fire prevention and control,” County AgriLife Extension Agricultural and Natural Resources Agent Mark Carroll said.
Read more...Lying is atrocity to the Lord
By T.J. Joyner
Pastor, Marathon Baptist Church
MARATHON – I once heard a story about a mother who liked
to ask her son questions just to see how he would respond.
One day she asked him to tell her what a lie was. His little brain thought about it for a while and responded.
Read more...Cancer ‘relay’ set for April 17
ALPINE – The American Cancer Society will sign up volunteers for its Cancer Prevention Study-3 at the Relay for Life here from 6 to 10 p.m. April 17, at Jackson Field at Sul Ross State University.
Anyone between the ages of 30 and 65 who has never been diagnosed with cancer and who will commit to the study for the long term may sign up.
Read more...23rd Trappings to be this month
ALPINE – Horsehair braider Gary Stark of Caldwell, ID, and artists Teal Blake of Weather-ford and Mikel
Donahue of Tulsa, OK, join a host of new artisans whose work will be featured at the 23rd annual Trappings of Texas this month.
Trappings, a juried invitational exhibit that brings together the best contemporary cowboy gear and art, will be Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27 and 28, at the Museum of the Big Bend on the Sul Ross State University campus.
Read more...Two achieve ‘Eagle Scout’
By ARLENE GRIFFIS
Marathon Editor
ODESSA – Karl and Logan Stringer, grandsons of Jim and Rosa Wright of Marathon,
were among five Odessa young men recently honored for achieving the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts of America.
Karl, 14, of Varsity Team 198, was elevated to the rank of Eagle on November 17 after earning 37 merit badges, 16 more than the number required.
Read more...Writer Round Up set
ALPINE – Writers will gather for the 18th Annual Writers Round-Up April 24, 25 and 26 at the Paisano Baptist Encampment
between here and Marfa.
Professional authors highlighting the retreat will include Dr. Barney Nelson, creative non-fiction writing professor at Sul Ross State University and author of numerous books on the west illustrated with her own photography.
Read more...Sul Ross offers Mexico tour
ALPINE – Sul Ross State University is offering students an opportunity to earn college credit on a 13-day tour of Mexico.
The tour, which runs May 18 TO 30, will be a bus trip through a number of cities and historical monuments. Students may earn up to six hours in credits for participating.
Read more...Evening of arts to feature soprano
ALPINE – The Sul Ross State University Concert Artist Series will feature soprano Dr. Jamie Reimer
as part of the Evening of the Arts series at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21, in Marshall Auditorium.
An Art Gallery reception will follow in the Francois Fine Arts Building at 7:30 and the Theatre Program’s production of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged” will be at 8:15 p.m. in the Studio Theatre, also in the Francois Fine Arts Building.
Read more...Texas involved in giant telescope
AUSTIN – The University of Texas at Austin and McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis have joined with eight other astronomical research organizations from three continents in signing the Founders’ Agreement to construct and operate the 25-meter Giant Magellan Telescope at Las Campañas Observatory in the Andes Mountains of Chile.
“In order to maintain our leadership role in astronomy in the future, Texas must be a part of the development and employment of the most advanced instruments,” said Dr. Mary Ann Rankin, dean of the university’s College Natural Sciences. “This means being involved in the creation of a very large telescope that will allow astronomers to push data acquisition and observation to much more advanced levels than ever before.
Read more... By ARLENE GRIFFIS
Library Friend
MARATHON
– Those who read this column regularly may remember a few weeks ago that I mentioned that my daughter Casey bought two books right
after Christmas and I immediately grabbed one of them, which I reviewed on January 14.
This week, I have been visiting Casey in Amarillo and I arrived with the early symptoms of a cold and did not feel well for a couple of days, so I took the opportunity to read the other book she bought, “The Secret Between Us” by Barbara Delinsky.
Read more...PROFESSOR PAUL – Paul Briones of San Antonio, a science teacher and host of the “Professor Paul 24-7 Show,” was a speaker at the annual
Pioneer Reunion at Panther Junction in the Big Bend National Park Saturday. The discussion focused for the first time in its 20-year
history on the Mexican side of the story. Briones said the story had been known only to “our grandmothers” but is now coming to light.
SAN ANGELO – Georgianna Escamilla-Valdez of San Angelo, daughter of Diana Escamilla of Sanderson, has been nominated to attend the
International Scholar Laureate Program Delegation on Nursing in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa this summer.
The nomination states she was chosen based on her exemplary leadership skills and outstanding academic performance as a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.
Read more...
Lock in
college costs now
AUSTIN – Enrollment ends this month for a chance to lock in the cost of college.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs reminded parents that the current enrollment period ends Feb. 28 for the Texas Tuition Promise Fund, the state’s new prepaid college tuition program.
Enrollment opened in September for the program, which allows families to lock in college tuition and required fees at current prices of Texas public colleges
Read more...By MARK GLOVER
Contributing Editor
BIG BEND – They rode through the narrow passage in the hot, dry desplobado, the scope of their European
garments long since reached as they sweated what little fluid remained in their gaunt frames.
“Agua,” the head rider spoke just above a whisper.
Read more...VIEW FROM THE GAP – This view of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park was taken from Persimmon Gap. The gap and the nearby
Chisos and Caballos Mountains tell a geologic story that goes back some 300 million years, give or take a few weeks.
By JASON HENNINGTON
Sul Ross News Writer
ALPINE – This city’s Centennial School building provided a “picture perfect” setting for a donation to Sul Ross State University.
Alpine Chamber of Commerce manager and local artist J.R. Smith painted a portrait of the Centennia
Read more...ENDOWMENT – A portrait of Centennial School painted by J.R. Smith will benefit the Centennial School Endowment. Prints will be sold
with proceeds going to the fund. The school was acquired by Sul Ross State University in 2001 after serving the Alpine ISD for more
than 50 years.
Photo by Big Bend Sentinel
ALL OVER– This truck turned over in heavy crosswinds Tuesday, closing State Highway between Marfa and Fort
Davis. High winds and blowing dust also turned a truck over on Interstate 35 near Waco and caused a five-vehicle accident on Interstate
10 near Balmorhea that killed one and injured another.
MARATHON – The second monthly Marathon Chamber of Commerce mixer is scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, Pitaya Verde, the new clothing store owned by Ann Urban.
Chamber President Hal Henthorne said everyone in town is invited to come and see the new store and perhaps make a purchase or two. There will be refreshments and door prizes.
Read more...SOUP’S ON – Famous Burro staff, from left, owner Neil Chavigny, Chef Bill Carlisle and manager Pat Picasso greeted guests at the Chamber
of Commerce “mixer” last week. The Famous Burro is Marathon’s newest restaurant in the building formerly occupied by Cottonwood
Station. This month’s mixer will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday Feb. 19 at Pitaya Verde.
LOOK QUICKLY – This mural on the east wall on the Little Green House in Sanderson has been hidden behind wallboard for years. And
it won’t be around for long. Gary Morgan is removing the building to make room for a proposed convention center and found this mural
when he removed the Styrofoam that covered it. The mural was painted by Harvey Rogers when he used the building as Harvey’s Café in
the 1960s.
KODI’S KIN – Mother and sisters of Kodi Dominguez of Sanderson presided at a benefit dinner Sunday to offset expenses incurred
with Kodi’s premature birth. Posing with pictures of Kodi and her dad Mark were, from left, Kailey, Kylie and mom Kim.
