August 29, 2008
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MARATHON – The Annual West Fest and Cabrito Cookoff, one of the red-letter days on the Marathon social calendar, will be Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19 and 20 at the Post Park five miles south of here. The
event starts with a dinner and dance on Friday with music by Los Pinche
Gringos. Admission will be $7 for individuals and $10 for couples. Canoe races along Peña Creek, roping contests for the
youngsters, a dunking booth and local food, drink and craft vendors will also
gather at the tree-shaded county park. The
Los Jax Team of Ben Ramirez and Ruben and Joe Gonzales of Marathon won the
award for best Cabrito at the Cook-off last year. Among
the games last year was a dunk tank sponsored by the Alpine school district. Brewster
County Sheriff Ronny Dodson and Chief Deputy Ryan Skelton were among those
that took a dip as people paid $1 for three softballs to throw at a target.
When the ball hit the target, the “victim” took a plunge. Also on the card were roping contests for the
younger set, washer toss games and local food, drink and craft vendors. Drug
wars, violence on border seen in film By
KIM RAPP News
Leader Production Manager SANDERSON
– The Terrell County Sheriffs Department showed a documentary last week
entitled “Drug Wars: The Columbianization of Mexico.” It
is a documentary by Rusty Flemming, who is a recovering drug addict now
working as a counselor for addicts. It
showed details of the drug cartels along the US-Mexico border and on into US
border cities. Sheriff
Clint McDonald and Chief Deputy Kenneth Turner both claimed the film is “very
real.” The
film was shown at a national law enforcement conference and again at a Texas
conference before being viewed at the Sanderson Community Building. Corruption
seeps into the military and law enforcement on both sides of the border,
easily corrupting police and military personnel alike, the film notes. “It
is easy to pass on [a bribe of] $50, but much harder to say no to $500,000,”
Flemming says in the film. The
Zetas, a drug cartel, have infiltrated the street gangs in the US and have
even used “Myspace” and “Utube” websites aimed at youth to find young prey. Since
2005, there have been more than 6,000 murders related to the Zetas, the film
says. The
cartels are alleged to use tortures including dropping people in acid,
feeding people to lions and lighting them on fire. The
thugs are known as “narcoterrorists” but also dabble in human smuggling. There
are roads and tunnels under the border that are used by the cartel to send minors
across with 500 pounds of marijuana, cocaine or other contraband in a
backpack. The
ruse provides an outlet for both human and drug smuggling in a single stroke. In
Laredo, there is an organization called “Laredo’s Missing,” listing more than
40 families that have been affected by a family member being kidnapped and
taken into Mexico for torture and death at random. They are believed to be
the actions of the cartel. Statistics
say that Mexico ranks second in reporters being killed, just behind Iraq. Elementary
children in Dallas are getting high on “cheese” for $2, black tar heroine in
powder form, provided by the cartels. “Our
government denies there is a problem,” the film says. “You decide.” McDonald
said he would like to show this film again at a later date. ALPINE
– Fall enrollment at Sul Ross State University showed a 2.8 percent increase
over the 2007 final headcount. A total of 1,859 students were registered on the last day of
late registration, 50 more than last year’s final total. Semester credit hours totaled 20,369, three percent more than
the 2007 final figures. Freshman enrollment was up 10.5 percent, to 549 students,
compared to 497 last year. Graduate enrollment was up 10.8 percent from 571 in 2007 to 633
this year. The headcount includes 221 sophomores, 199 juniors and 257
seniors. “The increase in new freshmen is especially gratifying and will
help compensate for the large number of graduates last year,” said Gregory
Schwab, associate vice president of Enrollment Management. Friends
of Marathon Library News By ARLENE GRIFFIS Library Friend MARATHON
– Before I start the review portion of my column this week, I would just like
to talk a little bit about our “little jewel,” the Marathon Public Library. I
don’t know if you know this, but the Marathon Library is a branch of the
Alpine Public Library so any events that benefit the Alpine Public Library
extend to us as well. However,
because we are so small, we also receive a small portion of the funds so we
also depend heavily upon the donations of local citizens in order to keep our
library operating and up-to-date. The
building in which the MPL is housed was built in the early 1950s and is owned
by Brewster County. Although
it has served us well for many years, it is in need of some additions and
refurbishing. This
was my second year to be involved in the MPL’s summer reading program and
this year we enjoyed the greatest success ever. We
have, alas, outgrown the library building and this year ended up meeting for
most of the summer at the fellowship hall of Marathon Baptist Church. It
is so great to live in a community in which all the various organizations
come to each other’s aid in times of need. This would never happen in the
“big city.” While
we appreciate the hospitality of the Baptist Church, it would be desirable to
add a multi-purpose room onto the library so that we could host children’s programs
as well as have a meeting room for Friends of the Library and other programs
for adults. Along
with this addition, we would also update and enlarge the inadequate restroom
in the library. Each
spring Librarian Carol Townsend solicits donations for the summer reading
program and our library friends always come through in a big way. You
may not realize it but, after the summer reading program is over, we have
used a large portion of those funds and it would be nice if we had some
ongoing donations so that we could keep adding materials to the library
throughout the year. This
past year, we also raised money via a quilt raffle, helping with the chili
cook-off, as well as receiving several grants for which we applied. If
you would like to support the library and donate to its ongoing support, any
amount would be appreciated. Carol
and I plan to attend the Texas Book Festival in Austin November 1 and 2 and
will, as always, be looking for new books to add to our shelves. Finally,
as in any endeavor, statistics are important for receiving grants, funding,
salaries, etc., so if you are not a regular library patron, stop in and be
counted, use a computer – yes, MPL has free internet – and check out a book,
a movie or a DVD. Carol
and her new part-time assistant, Shirley Rooney, are eager to assist you or
will just let you browse if that is what you prefer. Shirley
is a wealth of information about local history and people and is an avid
reader as well. Ask her what she has
read lately. And
now for the book review. Denise
Chavez was the keynote speaker at the Way Out West Book Festival August 8 and
9 and it was a delight and a privilege for me to meet her and to introduce
her at the first session of the festival.
This
past week, I read her family memoir, “A Taco Testimony,” which is the story
of her family, chiefly her mother, who led her children through hard times by
feeding them homemade tacos. This
book is rich with Mexican culture, family memories, the author’s own personal
philosophy and a number of great-sounding recipes. While
Chavez is realistic about her parents and their flaws which marked them as
humans, her deep appreciation for the fact that they did the best that they
could comes through in a powerful way.
One
of the things that I have always told my own two daughters is that you should
not depend in another person to make you happy because happiness is a quality
that comes from within your own heart. Nowhere
have I found that message more evident than from Denise Chavez’s book, “A
Taco Testimony.” Happy
Reading. Arlene
Griffis is a volunteer at Marathon Public Library, which is a branch of
Alpine Public Library. |
Sponsors
this year are the Gage Hotel, Mustang Propane, Big Bend Telephone, In &
Out Rentals, Tri-County Printing, Coors and Rope-O-Matic. Also, Carpenter Real Estate, Ellyson Abstract,
Twin Peaks Liquor, Powers Automotive, Johnson Seed and Western Wear and
Marathon Field Service. And Front Street Books, Eve’s Garden, Adobe
Rose, Betty Jones/Aloette Cosmetics, Mary Baxter, Shirley’s Burnt Biscuit,
Shaman Springs Gallery and Chesapeake Oil and Gas. MARATHON – Students at
Marathon Elementary School and others will be able to see a demonstration of
a hot air balloon this morning, Aug. 29. The Texas
Propane Educational & Marketing Foundation will demonstrate its entry in
the Big Bend Balloon Bash in Alpine this weekend. The
demonstration will be at 8:15 this morning, Aug. 29, at the track field near
the school, weather permitting. Philip Bryant,
who has been flying balloons for almost 20 years, will fly in the Alpine
event. Bryant is a commercial pilot
for single and multi-engine land planes and hot air balloons. He is serving the
ballooning community as an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor and an FAA Designated
Pilot Examiner. Hot air balloonists
use propane to heat the air within the envelope of the balloon. The scientific
explanation is that warm air rises and, when the air inside the envelope is
hotter than the surrounding air, the balloon rises. Using a propane
burner, the pilot heats the air to give lift. To decrease altitude, he has a
cord, which can open a slot in the envelope, letting some of the hot air
escape. A hot-air balloon is
credited with the first successful flight of a man, going back to 1783 in
Paris, France, when two men flew on a balloon invented by brothers Joseph
Michel and Jacques Etienne Montgolfiere. The
brothers’ first balloon successfully carried a sheep, a duck and a rooster.
Man came next. The
first manned flight in a hot air balloon was quickly followed by the first
gas balloon ride. Just 10 days after the Montgolfier’s flight, French
physicist Jacques Alexander Charles launched the first manned gas balloon
flight on December 1. Balloons
of all sizes and shapes will be at the annual Balloon Bash in Alpine starting
at 7 a.m. tomorrow, Aug. 30, Sunday and Monday. Organizers
said there were 18 entries as of press time, a number that was expected to
grow. BIG BEND – The National Park Service has proposed to construct a new multi-use trail, to include mountain biking, in the backcountry at Big Bend National Park. The
NPS is seeking public comment to help identify issues, questions and concerns
related to the proposal. A
public meeting will be from 7 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the Brewster
County Community Center in Study Butte and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept.
11 at the Espino Conference Center at Sul Ross State University in Alpine.
The
Public Comment period began last week and ends September 11. Those
wanting to provide comments and identify issues for consideration can visit
National Park Services Planning, http://planning.nps.gov/bibe
during the comment period. The
NPS also is seeking comment on a new wastewater treatment system in Chisos Basin.
The
project is proposed to protect public health, avoid disruption of sanitary
sewer service and to upgrade the wastewater treatment system’s operational
capacity and efficiency. Comments
may be made during the open period at the same website. MARATHON
– Marathon Middle School will court a girl’s volleyball team this season but
the High School remains one player short. Girl’s
Coach and recent Sul Ross State University Graduate Nitra Woods hopes to find
the sixth player soon to court two teams for the year. The
season starts next week. Lady’s
party ‘celebrates life’ By LYN ROSAS News Leader Business
Manager SANDERSON
– Some 39 women gathered at Cantina El Gavilan last week to visit with, laugh
and enjoy a drink with Norma Guadarrama in what was called a “Celebrating
Life” party. Norma
has been fighting breast cancer well over a year now and just recently
received news that it has spread to other areas in her body. Shellie
Martin and I arranged the party in hopes of boosting her spirits as she faced
a serious sinus operation. Each
lady wore pink in some form or fashion, be it a shirt, bandana, bracelet,
ring or shoes. A
pink ribbon symbolizes breast cancer awareness and all showed up in support
of her. Katie
Roberts, along with Norma’s family and friends, will assemble a benefit
dinner and auction about two weeks after Norma’s surgery. Details
on that event will be released later. Jimmy
Davis made a money tree for the “Celebration” and by night’s end it held
$709. Sandra
Davis and Debbie Pruitt made a gorgeous corsage for the honoree. There was a
bouquet of red carnations with pink ribbons tied to each and Norma got to
hand out individual flowers to women present. The
finger food was assembled on a buffet table that included chips, an
assortment of dips and a gorgeous pink ribbon cake made by Susan Brotherton. “I
didn’t expect such a turnout but I am very happy and surprised to see such
support,” Norma told the News Leader. “It’s always great to have good
friends and all that showed up are just that. “I
would like to sincerely thank each of the ladies who showed up,” she said. AUSTIN
– Transferring the some $600 million per year in gasoline taxes from the
Texas Department of Public Safety to new road construction was one suggestion
reached last week for long-term financing of highway construction. A
committee of the elected leadership of the state also suggested some new
funding mechanisms that could use private capital to ease the burden of
bonded debt. Allison
Castle, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry, told the News Leader instruments
like retirement funds could be an addition to more government bonds. Perry
outlined the concepts in a letter to Texas Transportation Chairman Deidre
Delisi. Also
on the letterhead were Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom
Craddick. Instead
of gasoline taxes, it was suggested that the DPS be funded from the General
Fund. “All
of this will have to be approved by legislature,” Castle said. “The letter
signals the solidarity among the leadership about long-term transportation
funding solutions.” She
said Perry has been “a long-time advocate for transparency in the budget and
that the gas tax should go for transportation.” Castle
said “ending that diversion” would be up to the Legislature and it “may have
to be phased in over two legislative sessions.” Among
the funding mechanisms would be the creation of a “transportation finance
corporation” that would use “domestic capital” from sources such as
retirement systems to invest in infrastructure such as new roads. “The
TRS [Teacher Retirement System] is investing in Las Vegas Casinos,” she said.
“They see it as a good investment for their money.” Castle
suggested an agency such as the North Texas Transportation Authority might
want to finance, say, $100 million with bonds. The rest could be placed with
a finance corporation. The
TTA builds and operates toll roads in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth
Metroplex. Private
investment would be attracted to the corporation that, in turn, could pay for
new roads. Another
recommendation was legislation authorizing appropriation of the bonds
approved in a November, 2007, Constitutional election. Voters approved by nearly 63 percent the issuance of
“not to exceed” $5 billion for highway improvement pro-jects. “We
are looking at how we can we access more domestic capital and free up what
TxDOT is now spending,” Castle said. “In February, TxDOT announced it didn’t
have any more money. “There
was a call to issue more debt – more bonds – and the governor said no,” she
said. “We are not just going to issue more debt. We need a long- term solution.” Castle
said the agreement was the result of “many months of collaboration among
leadership and Chairman Delisi as well. Hopefully, this isn’t the end of it.” ALPINE – The Big Bend Region Minority and Small Business
Development Center will offer a free two-hour seminar, “The Home Business: Getting
Started,” next week. The seminar begins at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, in Room 107
of the Centennial School Building at 500 W. Ave H here. The seminar is designed for individuals that are interested in
starting a business out of their home or someone who has just recently
started a home-based business. It is highly recommended for individuals who have an idea, a
product or a service that may not require a commercial location to be
successful. Pre-registration is not necessary but is appreciated. Call 432-837-8813 or email dmiller@sulross.edu
to register. |
Other
sponsors are Neil Chavigny, Hardy Hole Drilling, Glass Mountain Well Service,
Marathon Motel & Courtyard Café, Shell Station and Fina Station. MARATHON
– The new Brewster County Deputy Sheriff here is Edward Cardoza, who not only
brings his 1.5 years of peace officer experience to town, he also brings his
family. They
moved to Marathon in June from Mason County where he also served as deputy. “We
love the mountains,” Cardoza said. The
Cardoza’s three girls, Loreeyna, Alyssandra and Bianca, attend Marathon Elementary
School in first, second and sixth grade. Their two infant boys remain at
home. Cardoza,
who attended the Law Enforcement Academy in Abilene, works the Marathon beat
five days a week. Former
Marathon deputy Sean Roach, who now serves in Alpine, covers for Cardoza during
his days off. Cardoza
was asked what the difference was between here and Mason County. “There, you drive 15 minutes and you’re in
town,” he said. “Here you drive 15 minutes and you’re just getting started.” The
Cardozas plan to make Marathon their permanent place of residence. ALPINE – Marilyn Shackelford of
Marathon was named as one of 11 new faculty members and three new staff
members at Sul Ross State University for the fall semester. Shackelford
will be a visiting lecturer in Education. She received a BS in Elementary
Education in 1966 and an MEd in 1970 from Sul Ross. She
previously taught at Presidio Independent School District and Marathon ISD. Three
new staff members also have joined the Alpine campus. Jeffrey
Blake assumed his new duties as Campus Activities coordinator, Phillip Gay
has been appointed director of Enterprise Applications for SunGard and Tommye
Linan is the new internal auditor. New
faculty also include Kathy Stein, director of the Academic Center for
Excellence; Clay Rasmussen, assistant professor of Agricultural Education;
Travis Clark, assistant professor of Fine Arts, and Mark Emerson, assistant
professor of History. Also,
David Watson, visiting lecturer in Political Science; Scarlett Anderson,
visiting lecturer in Education; Greg Davis, assistant football coach and
lecturer in Physical Education; Jennifer Jordan, visiting lecturer in
Education and Bobby Mesker, head baseball coach and lecturer in Physical
Education. Jeremy
Roethler is a new assistant professor of History at the school’s Rio Grande
College. ALPINE – The 10th annual Sul Ross State University new student convocation will be at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, in Marshall Auditorium. Convocation 2012 welcomes all new Sul Ross students and
acquaints them with the history and traditions of Sul Ross. Classes for Thursday will be on an altered schedule in order to
accommodate the convocation. The annual Student Organization Recruitment Fair, formerly Fall
on the Mall, will be after the convocation. Student clubs and organizations will be present on the mall to recruit
new members. complete degrees By JASON HENNINGTON Sul Ross News Writer ALPINE
– Emily Galindo and Rachel Rivera followed in their mother’s footsteps all
the way across the Gallego Center stage to receive Sul Ross State University
degrees this month. Rachel
Cedillo of Del Rio joined her
daughters in receiving Master’s degrees in criminal justice, completing an
educational journey begun 24 years earlier. Her
graduate studies were delayed by pregnancy with her fourth child. In
2007, she seized the opportunity to resume classes and finish her degree. “I
heard about the online classes,” she said. “It was heaven sent. Everything
fell into place.” Online
classes enabled both Mom and daughter Rachel Rivera to complete their
Master’s degrees. Rivera
also has children, including a newborn. “It
was really convenient at home with the newborn,” Rivera said. Galindo,
encouraged by her husband, mother and sister, also chose Sul Ross. After
receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas in December,
2006, she started her graduate program – also online – at Sul Ross a month
later. “I
wanted to work on my Master’s in social work at UNT but my husband encouraged
me to choose another university,” she said. “After my mother and sister
confirmed with me that they were going to attend Sul Ross for their graduate
degrees, they both suggested we ‘all do it together' and so the opportunity
came knocking. “It
was an automatic choice for me at that point to attend Sul Ross,” Galindo
said. Once
everyone decided Sul Ross was the place to finish their degrees, the ladies
made a pact. “If Mom can do it, then we all can.” Before
returning to school, Cedillo worked in Del Rio as a federal probation officer
and had planned to return to school to earn her degree in history. “Events
took a turn to where I do what I do now,” she said. Rivera
also worked as a probation officer for a year and a half before deciding to return
to school. “I
had nothing to lose,” she said. “Mom mentioned it to me and said ‘Let’s do it
together.’” During
their stint as online classmates, the three maintained a friendly
competition. “Every
time we would take a test it was like ‘let’s see who got the highest score,’”
Cedillo said. Although
they encouraged each other, they never helped each other with class work or
assignments. “We
were each other’s backbone on attending Sul Ross,” Galindo said. “We
were competitive throughout the entire degree plan,” she said. “However, we
always demonstrated integrity by ensuring we never helped each other out when
it came to class work, term papers and exams. That is what made it so much
more exciting.” “It
was back and forth,” Rivera said. “We never helped each other out. At the end
of the day, we would compare grades.” Since
Galindo was beginning her Master’s work immediately after completing her bachelor’s
degree, her mother and sister kidded that she had an advantage with classes
and homework. “I
assured them by saying, ‘I’m not used to it. This is graduate school. It’s
different,’” she said. Cedillo
and Galindo both finished with 4.0
grade point averages while Rivera finished with a 3.5. Cedillo
was also chosen as the Graduate Student of the Year. Dr.
Lorie Rubenser, associate professor of Criminal Justice and graduate
counselor, said the award was narrowed down to Cedillo and Galindo. “When
we picked the graduate of the year it was between Emily and Rachel. Emily
called and said she wanted her mother to have it,” she said. Throughout their studies, mother and
daughters encouraged one another to not give up and to finish. “Each
one of us faced several different challenges while attending Sul Ross,”
Galindo said. “No matter how difficult the situation, we were there to
support one another emotionally and we pressed each other to finish what we
came to do,” Galindo said. Cedillo
was dubbed “Drama Mama” but said her daughters’ tough love kept her inspired. “My
daughters were very supportive,” she said. All
three said family support was integral to completing their degrees. Cedillo
returned to school but still had to deal with home life, homework and a full
time job. But she said her last child at home was a factor in her return to
school. Her
12-year-old son had to adjust to the idea of having his mother doing homework
and getting ready for exams. “I
told him Mom was not going to be at all of his football games and everything
anymore because I had to get ready for exams,” she said. “He adjusted pretty well.” Cedillo
also credited her husband for helping with their son during her
coursework. At
one point she did not know if she would return to school because of a turn of
events in her life due to family emergencies. “My
mother moved in and my husband was having health problems but we got past
it,” she said. Rivera
also faced the challenge of raising a family and going to school but, unlike
her mother, her children were much younger.
Her
two daughters Ariana, seven, and Natalia, three, were a major factor and
incentive to finish her graduate degree. “Ariana
is used to it. She seemed very happy about graduation,” Rivera said. “I’m a
role model to them and encouraging them by going to school.” Rivera
also acknowledged her husband’ adjustment and support in her decision. “He
was very supportive,” she said. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn't have made
it.” Galindo
also praised her husband’s support. “It
is truly a blessing to receive the love and support from both my husband and
family,” she said. “The
entire family is proud of these women,” Rubenser said. “The girls are so
proud of their mom, too.” Galindo
and Rivera are happy they were able to be a part of their mother’s success. “Mom
gave up graduate school because of us and we encouraged her to go back,”
Galindo said. “Not a lot of people have that experience.” The
ladies have decided they are finished with school for now but do not rule out
a possible return. “At
this point, I am done with school but who knows what tomorrow brings,”
Galindo said. Since
earning her degree, Rivera is preparing to leave for the Border Patrol
Academy. “I’m
confident enough to come back as an agent,” she said. Cedillo
continues to work as probation officer and drug specialist but will not count
out returning to the classroom. “I’m
not going to shut the door there,” she said. “You’re never too old to go
back.” Galindo
continues to work as a project manager but is considering the possibility of
working for Homeland Security. “I
am ready for a change and I feel that attaining my graduate degree is a
stepping stone in the direction of working in the criminal justice system,”
she said. The
trio enjoyed their experience and the fact they were able to finish together
through all of the adversities and challenges they faced. “It’s
a blessing. I don’t think I could have done it alone," Galindo said.
“I’ll carry it with me forever.” They
were also impressed by their professors and the help they provided throughout
the graduate work. “Those
professors were awesome. I wish I had been there live,” Cedillo said. “Each
professor brought their own spice into it. In the end it made one big knot
and hooked it all up.” “The
professors at Sul Ross have made such an impact on me that I will never
forget them,” Galindo said. “They were an inspiration to me as well.” Commencement
gave them the chance to visit the Alpine campus for the first time since
2004, when Rivera graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. “It’s
a beautiful campus,” Cedillo said. “I walked around and good memories came
back. Students still have the enthusiasm. “There
are different types of students now but still students,” she said. |