Sales tax receipts higher in March

AUSTIN – Terrell County sales tax receipts bucked a statewide trend and headed sharply back up this month after several months in decline, figures released last week show.

County tax receipts reported in March were $103,715.03, up almost 81 percent from the $57,323.27 reported in March, 2009.

Border violence gets response

AUSTIN – With the recent escalation of murders in northern Mexico and the increasing threat of violence crossing over into neighboring border communities, Gov. Rick Perry has ordered activation of the first phase of the state’s spillover violence contingency plan.

Brewster recount set

ALPINE – Brewster County Judge candidate Avinash Rangra submitted a petition Saturday for recount of the electronic ballots cast in the Brewster county judge race on March 2.

“The defect in candidate Rangra's petition for recount has been remedied and the petition accepted,” Democratic County Chair Dale Christophersen said Tuesday. “County Clerk Berta Martinez is making arrangements for the conduct of the requested recount no later than March 23.”

Runoff ballot places drawn

SANDERSON – When voters across the state went to the polls in the Primary Elections March 2, it was not all over until the November General Election.

There still are three undecided races in Terrell County and others across the state that will be decided in a runoff election Tuesday, April 13.

SANDERSON — Mike Sanchez and son Mikey Sanchez, both of Sanderson, took first place at the Border Patrol Horseshoe Tournament at Bicentennial Park here Saturday.

Cisco Lopez of Sanderson and Marcus Galvan of Fort Stockton were second in the tournament.

St. James Church hosts ‘Jesus Rally’

SANDERSON – The St. James Catholic Church here had a “Jesus Rally” last weekend.

Sister Luz and Sister Margie made the trip from the diocese in El Paso and were joined by “about 40 kids, counting help from the [Sanderson] Junior High and High School,” said Diana Escamilla of Sanderson.

Meetings set on business

FORT STOCKTON – The US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development department will conduct a series of rural business roundtable discussions next week including one in Sanderson.

The business resource roundtable meetings in rural communities across the region are designed to equip businesses with a roadmap for success.

Comments sought on ‘exotics’

BIG BEND – Those interested in management of non-native, exotic plants and animals in Big Bend National Park will have an opportunity to express their views at public scoping meetings and to provide written comments.

Meetings for the public to help identify issues, concerns, and other comments will be at the Brewster County Multi-Purpose Facility in Study Butte Tuesday, March 23, and the Morgan Conference Center at Sul Ross State University in Alpine Wednesday, March 24.  Both meetings will be from 6 to 7 p.m.

By ANNA La FLEUR

News Leader Writer

SANDERSON – Those who read my “Cactus Chat” column may be familiar with Ed Layton. He and his wife Marcia Knee-land come here from time to time to stay in their home away from home in Penn Yan, NY.

As it turns out, Layton is more than the average “snow bird.” He also predicts the Oscars.

By ANNA La FLEUR

News Leader Writer

SANDERSON — The Rise Across Texas Challenge bicycle tour faced its share of challenges on the leg that ended here Tuesday.

Of the 20 cyclists who set out from the Texas/Louisiana border March 6 for the ride to Presidio, only about a dozen reached Sanderson and those that did had a passel of problems.

International Park envisioned

Park completes light project

BIG BEND – Big Bend National Park has completed its upgrades to the exterior lighting at the Chisos Basin to reduce light pollution, reduce energy consumption and provide better and safer illumination for visitors.

The Chisos Basin work marks the completion of the second of four phases that will retrofit all exterior light fixtures within the park, a collaborative effort with the National Park Service and a Best Lighting Practices grant with Musco Lighting.

Writing Roundup to be next month

ALPINE – Writers from across the state have been invited to the 19th annual Writing Round-Up April 9, 10 and 11 here.

Texas Mountain Trail Writers of Alpine and Fort Davis will host the spring retreat at Paisano Baptist Encampment in the mountains seven miles west of here.

Alpine gets energy grant

ALPINE — The City of Alpine will get a grant of $419,600 as part of a program announced this week by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs for 32 renewable energy projects around the state.

It is the first round of federal stimulus grants as part of the Distributed Renewable Energy Technology Program.

TxDOT seeks plan ideas

ODESSA – For the next several weeks, Texans will have the opportunity to provide suggestions to improve the way the state transportation system is planned.

The Texas Department of Transportation is soliciting comments on revisions to department transportation planning and programming rules. The request will be posted in the Texas Register today, March 19.

SANDERSON – Seeing cross-country bicycle riders passing through town is not at all unusual here.

A couple of bicyclers pedalled through town this week on their way to Florida, pedalling “4Peace.”

By MARK GLOVER

Contributing Editor

BIG BEND - Coinciding with a $10.4 million federal grant to the Big Bend National Park, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and US Rep. Ciro Rodriguez visited Panther Junction Friday to discuss creating a nearly three million acre international park along the Rio Grande.

Known as the International Peace Park program, the plan would link the Big Bend National Park with two Mexican government parcels known as Ocampo protected area and Monumento Natural del Rio Bravo and several privately- owned, large Mexican parcels along the river, including the Cemex-owned Sierra del Carmen.