April 4, 2008
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MARATHON
– “They want a permit but there’s no permit to fill out,” Buddy Cavness said
this week at his drilling mud mixing station at the end of Airport Road East
near his home. Cavness
was referring to the licensing process of the six-year-old Brewster County Water
District. “They
want 90 days to review the situation,” Cavness said. Cavness
intends to mix and deliver a potassium solution known as KCL to an un-named
petroleum exploration company drilling east of town. “I’d
rather not say who it is,” Cavness said. “I’d rather them leak it than me.
The oil companies are very secretive. But I can tell you it’s not Lariat.” Besides
his new proposed operation in Marathon, Cavness owns and operates an oil
service company in Midland and Pecos. His
equipment includes seven tractor-trailer tanker rigs, each with a cargo
capacity of 6,000 gallons. They presently supply drilling mud to another
exploration company in Pecos. SANDERSON
– The Seventh Annual Buzzard Rally officially begins today, April 4, under
the new sponsorship of American Legion Post 160. Registration
begins at noon at the Legion Hall and a Biker Party
begins “when you get here” and lasts until midnight. A disc jockey starts
playing music at 8 p.m. Tomorrow, April 5, is the “main event, starting with breakfast
at 7 a.m. for “a nominal fee” at the Legion Hall. There will be a 125-mile scenic poker run with the first bikes
leaving at 9 a.m. and the last at 1 p.m. The bikers will follow a prescribed course out US 285 to Ranch
Road 2400, east to State Highway 349 and back to US 90 at Dryden and back to
Sanderson. Riders will gather their poker hands from stops along the way.
The best hand wins a cash prize. A series of bike games begin at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Legion Hall.
Winners of these events will get trophies. They include the “Straw in the Bottle” contest, “Slow Race,”
“Tennis Ball on the Cone” and “Weenie Bite.” In the straw contest, a rider on the back of a bike tries to put
a straw in a beer bottle with her mouth while the driver goes by at slow
speed. The slow race win goes to the rider who can drive his cycle the
slowest without touching the ground with his feet. The tennis ball event is similar to the straw contest in that
the rider attempts to place tennis balls on top of cones strategically placed
along the course. In the weenie contest, a rider on the back of a bike tries to
bite a hot dog suspended over the course as the driver moves the machine
under it. There is also a “best of show” contest for the best looking
motorcycle at the rally. In the annual “Show of Strength Parade” at 6 p.m. tomorrow,
bikers will all drive east on Highway 90 from Sanderson State Bank to the Legion
Hall. There will be a barbecue dinner at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Legion
Hall and another Biker Party at 8 p.m. with live music until 1 a.m. Sunday. For Sanderson residents who don’t want to register for the
entire event, dance tickets will be sold for $10 per person. Breakfast will again be available at the Legion Hall starting at
7 a.m. Sunday, again for “a nominal fee.” There will be a closing prayer service at the Legion Hall at
Legion Hall at 8 a.m. Sunday and bikers will begin to leave for home. at
History Fair MARATHON
– Omar Grano and Zach Gonzales won first place with their group exhibit of
“The Conflicts and Compromises of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts” at the
Big Bend Regional History Fair at Sul Ross State University Monday. “They
had started thinking about a topic after they placed in the top eight at the
Texas History Fair last year,” said teacher Andrea Johnson. They
decided to research the Scouts after a field trip to Fort Clark last year
where they saw that there were Scouts named “Payne” who were Medal of Honor
winners. The
name Payne is a familiar name in Marathon. During research at the Marathon
Cemetery in the spring last year, several Payne markers were found. One of the adobe houses in town is called
the “Monroe Payne” house and another is the “Blas Payne” house. It
is said that Payne is buried on a mountain near the Post Park six miles south
of town. During
Spring Break, Omar, Zach and sponsor Andrea Johnson made a trip to Eagle Pass
to visit Fort Duncan, the first site of the Scouts, and then back to
Brackettville for another visit to Fort Clark. The
students plan on more research before the group makes the trip to Austin for
the State competition May 3 and 4. They plan to visit the archives at the
Center of Big Bend Studies and spend an afternoon at the Museum of the Big
Bend with Matt Walters to professionally mat their table-top project. |
“My family’s been in Marathon 100 years. I like Marathon the way it is. And I’d rather see a local doing business with them than outsiders,” Cavness said. “I sell a lot of propane around here and I don’t want to make people mad.” The
earthen tank at the end of Airport Road East will be used to hold fresh water
from the newly drilled water well on Cavness’ property. This
extension of Airport Road was used to service the old airport on Texas
Comptroller Susan Comb’s ranch. “We
put the KCL in the tanker and then load water over the top,” Cavness said.
“It’ll mix en route.” By R.M. GLOVER MNL Editor ALPINE
– The legal status of the three ballot boxes found three days after the March
4 election in Terlingua and the electronic votes cast in Precinct 4 may
determine whether a special election will be needed to confirm a winner for
the title of the next 83rd District Attorney. At
a court hearing Friday, 394th District Administrative Judge Steve Ables ruled
that he had no jurisdiction to order Democratic Party Chairman Dr. Dale
Chistopherson or Election Coordinator Jerri Jones to tally the late-arriving
votes. Accordingly,
the temporary restraining order that challenger Jesse Gonzales, Jr., had
sought was dissolved. The
intention of the restraining order was to keep the outcome of the election
from being ratified by Secretary of State Phil Wilson. Gonzales
also filed suit requiring a ballot re-count. Three
ballot boxes found after the first count in Terlingua reduced Frank Brown’s
lead from 17 to 6. Then
it was discovered that not all the electronic balloting votes were counted in
Alpine. “I’ve
received instructions today from the secretary of state to commence a
re-count,” Party Chairman, Christopherson said. “However, there’s a little
confusion on what can be recounted.” Presently,
all of the ballots cast in the March 4 election, including the three ballot
boxes from Terlingua and the electronic tape from Precinct 4, are in the
County Clerk’s basement. “Should
Jesse Gonzales Jr. or [incumbent] Frank Brown not agree with the re-count
results, then a contested election may ensue,” Christopherson said. “If
a judge deems that it is not possible to determine a winner from the
re-count, then it is possible we will need to have a special election to
determine the winner,” Christopherson said. a
success By R.M. GLOVER MNL Editor MARATHON
– The second annual Make-A-Wish Foundation silent auction
and benefit concert at Sonworks Gallery here showed an increase from last
year, organizer Wesley Spears said. “I'm
still counting,” he answered when asked how much he raised. The
Phoenix-based foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening
illnesses. Spears
sang and played Christian music. It
was moving and people seemed to enjoy it. I would say 20 to 30 people stopped
by. Clyde
Curry, Kate Thayer, Wes’s son Mark and daughter in law and 15-month-old
grandson, Kate’s son and daughter in law were also there. The
weather was good -- clear, dry and not too windy. I
think most of the music that Wes played was original. I picked up the guitar
after Wes but they pulled the plug on me. wins
bike-a-thon MARATHON
– Third grade student Jesse Lopez completed 72 laps around the track at the
Elementary school last week to win first place in a race to raise funds for
St. Judes Children’s Hospital in a bike-a-thon. First
grader MacKenzie Pineda came in second with 52 laps. Pre-kindergarten
student Alexya Grano and her “Dora the Explorer” bicycle completed 12 laps
with grandmother Martha Abrego beside her most of the way. Kindergarten
student Monique Pineda, second grade student Emilio Briones and Noah Lopez
did 50 laps apiece. Third
grade student Jeremy Ramirez circled the track 42 times. Sister Zoey, 16
months old, and “Grandma Janie” Ramirez, his great grandmother, joined him
for a lap. Fourth
grader Sarah Arenas did 37 laps as did Kindergartener Josh Guzman. First
grade student Alyssa Olvera went around the track 35 times and second grader
Zane Roberts completed 31 laps, some with his dad Clint riding beside
him. First
grader Tristyn Galindo went around 24 times while kindergartener Isaac
Briones with mom Judy beside him most of the way did 26 laps. Pre-K student Dominic Paredez ran around
the track 24 times, fourth grade student Alexis Bowers had 18 laps, second
grader Cameden Lujan added 15 laps to the total and little Giana Gonzales
went 13 laps. “The
wind kicked up from the north around 11:30 a.m.. forcing the bicyclers and runners to take shelter inside” said
teacher Andrea Johnson. D.J.
Hensley helped organize the event and served refreshments of orange juice,
Gatorade, bananas and Rice Crispy treats to the young riders. A
final figure for donations was not available at press time. Students had
until today, April 4, to collect all money from pledges. All
donations go to the St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, the largest
pediatric cancer research center in the country. |
“Change is coming,” Cavness said. “The oil
companies are moving in. I don’t want them here but who’s going to stop
them?” The next water board meeting is at 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 7, at the Brewster County Commissioners Courtroom. FORT
STOCKTON – Adam Johnson, 37, of Sanderson was charged with violation of a
burn ban and “reckless damage” after a major grass fire March 14 in northern
Terrell and eastern Pecos Counties. The
fire blackened more than 50,000 acres and burned into the following week
before it was brought under control. Most
of the raging fires that week have been brought under control but new red
flag warnings were issued at midweek. The
Texas Forest Service reported several fires involving more than 15,000 acres
and one fatality this week, including a small fire near Iron Mountain north
of Marathon Monday. The
fatality was reported in a 240-acre fire in Wheeler County in the northeast
Panhandle, which also burned a fire vehicle and destroyed another vehicle. The
Wheeler County sheriff’s office said Allen Ray Lemon, 64, of Sinnet was
working on a bulldozer nearby when the fire broke out and he attempted to
control the fire with his dozer. Among the
more damaging fires was one near Big Spring caused by arching electrical
lines, which involved 496 acres. The blaze
threatened 200 structures and two were lost. A volunteer firefighter was
treated for heat exhaustion Monday. The Iron
Mountain Fire Monday burned 140 acres, caused by welding. The fire was thought
to be contained by the Marathon Volunteer Fire Department, The Texas
Forest Service provided a helitanker, two single-engine air tankers and a
task force of dozers. The
largest concentration this week was in two fires affecting a total of 15,000
acres in Borden County. One
rancher received burns to his hands and feet and his maintainer was
destroyed. The fires appear to have started from an electrical problem. There
were several other small fires around the state but no serious injuries or
property damage were reported. At
least two of the fires were reportedly started by cars parking over tall
grass. The
catalytic converters on cars can become quite hot and can start fires in
tall, dry grass. Burn
bans are still in place for much of the state, including Terrell and Brewster
Counties. poster
contest MARATHON
-- Cameden Lujan of Marathon won first place among 17 posters submitted for
the Spring Break Poster Contest held by the Marathon Public Library. Children
ages pre-k through high school were invited to express their artistic
abilities in posters with a western rodeo theme promoting the summer reading
program coming this June. Cameden
received an art kit that included makers, pencils and a poster of dinosaurs. All
the children will receive a “Certificate of Participation” for the contest. Posters
will be displayed around Marathon to announce the upcoming summer reading
program in June, which contains a western rodeo theme. They
can all be seen online at http://www.alpinepubliclibrary.org
Several
entries were from children visiting for spring break. Other
children participating in the contest were Courtney Stringer, Gage Ganter,
Alexis Bowers, Elizabeth Hernandez, Jesse Lopez, Jr., and Karl Stringer. And
Erica Kelly, Kallie Duncan, Britton Marin, Sarah Arenas, Bailey Marin and
Colee Charlesworth. Also,
Mason Priest, Kenton Duncan, Rachel Kelly and Kyler Duncan The
judge this year was Connie Springfield of Marathon. “Everyone
is a winner,” Librarian Carol Townsend said. “Thanks to all the children for
their participation and to Connie Springfield for being our judge.” Marfa
Public Radio holds first on-air fundraiser Marfa
Public Radio (KRTS, 93.5 FM) is holding its first-ever Pledge Drive,
beginning this Friday evening (April 4) and lasting until Monday morning
April 14. The
10-day event is an opportunity for area residents to show their support for
the region’s new community radio station, by becoming a member of the
station. Pledge Drives are the way in which noncommercial stations raise
money for their annual operations. KRTS
serves the Tri-County region and hopes to boost its local membership with
this first on-air fundraiser. Annual membership begins at $60 and it helps
pay for national programming from National Public Radio, as well as for the
production of the local programs, such as “Nature Notes,” “Voices of the Big
Bend” and “Talk At Ten.” Radio
listeners are encouraged to tune into 93.5 FM throughout the Pledge Drive to
hear on-air specials planned by KRTS staff and volunteers. Additional
volunteers are encouraged to help at the station at 111 S. Highland Avenue in
Marfa during the Drive. Benefit
concerts for the radio station are being held at the Railroad Blues in Alpine
on Wednesday, April 9 (7 PM), at the Paisano Hotel in Marfa on Friday, April
11 (8 PM) and at Liberty Hall in Marfa on Saturday, April 12 (7 PM). More
information is available online at www.marfapublicradio.org or by calling
432-729-4578. |