RACE NO MORE – This scene from the Marathon school facilities where racers in the Road Runner Open Road Race turned around last year
may be one for the history books. Oil and gas activity along US 385 between here and Fort Stockton have prevented the fourth running
of the race and the end may be permanent.
FORT STOCKTON – After three runnings of the Road Runner Open Road Race between here and Marathon, there is “no way” the race can be
run this year, Race Coordinator Kenda Furman told the News Leader this week.
The race was a spin-off of the Big Bend Open Road Race
between here and Sanderson that just completed its twelfth race last month.
While it did not look good for Marathon, a decision was
not announced until after the running of the BBORR.
Drilling activity along US Highway 385, the racecourse for the RRORR, is too intense
this year.
Just one day lost for producers of the valuable commodity can cost them $1 million. While they may want to support the event,
it just plain costs them too much.
There was talk among some of the drivers this year that, if RRORR could not be run, the BBORR be
repeated in October instead.
“That’s what some of the drivers want, but not this year anyway,” Furman said.
Many drivers prefer the race between Fort Stockton and Sanderson, not because of any negatives from Marathon.
US 285 is simply more “challenging” with sharper
curves and steeper hills than US 385.
“I understand all the oil field traffic up there on the road complicated it,” Marathon civic leader Patsy Cavness said. “We may loose a little business but Fort Stockton loses the most.
Read more…Cathedral grass fire contained
MARATHON – The Cathedral Fire in the Glass Mountains west of here was considered “contained” last week
after burning an estimated 23,000 acres.
“Drove the tanker up the hill through some seven foot flames,” Marathon Police Captain Geoff Lemmers said. “It’s a five ton military unit. Bullet proof.”
Read more…86 quilts vie at
Basin Quilt Show
Mothers honored at Park
MARATHON – Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11, and St. Mary’s and Mission Catholic Churches are sponsoring an event
to mark the day at Post Park.
Brisket plates will be sold for $6 per plate from 12 noon to 3 p.m.
Disc jockey Coney Vega of Alpine will
provide music from 1 to 6 p.m.
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Weigmanns mark ‘golden’ date
MARATHON – Dieter and Christa Weigmann celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary at the Gage Hotel Saturday,
April 26.
The couple met while attending the University of Heidelberg. Hans was studying chemistry and Christa, language.
Read more…Graduates’ Mass date changed
MARATHON – The time and date for the traditional Graduates’ Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church has been
changed from Saturday, May 17, to 12 noon Sunday, May 18.
There will be ceremonies for graduates from kindergarten, eighth grade and high school.
Read more…Pacific trash gyre
By R.M. GLOVER
MNL Editor
Like the Falcons turning and turning in a widening gyre in William Butler Yeats poem “The
Second Coming,” plastic – perhaps as much as three million tons – swirls in a Pacific Ocean gyre.
Dubbed the Pacific Trash Vortex, plastic, floats, bobs and semi-sinks in this stagnant part of the sea that is wind-starved and hard to escape.
Read more…
Library recognizes volunteers
Building Ecotopia:
Cob Homes
By CHUCK HALL
Culture Artist
Since cob homes are made from materials readily found in nature, they can be
built very inexpensively.
The tradeoff with a cob home is that it is a labor-intensive process.
If you’re not a hands-on, do-it-yourself type of person, cob is probably not for you. But if you don’t mind getting your hands – and feet – dirty, then cobbing can be a very relaxing and meditative experience.
Read more…The legend of the Golden Pig
By SUSANNA FUÉNTEZ
Special to the News Leader
MARATHON – I heard this story many years ago when I was a
little girl and then again in the 70s from my in-laws.
Both stories were similar and came from trustworthy families so I grew up believing it.
Read more…Death probe continues
MARATHON – Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson said this week there was “nothing new” in the murder in front
of the Gage Hotel April 26.
T.J. Dunlap, 68, of Presidio was still in jail in lieu $100,000 bond in the shooting of Richard Lyn Purdy,
48, of Lubbock.
The two were seen walking up the sidewalk from The Oasis Café and the shooting stemmed from an argument.
Dunlap drove towards Alpine but was arrested and was booked on a charge of first-degree murder.
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Morning talk show on KRTS
MARFA – Public radio station KRTS will pre-empt its Saturday morning programming on Election Day from 10
a.m. to noon tomorrow, May 10, for a special airing of interviews with candidates in the contested races in the tri-county area.
Races include Alpine mayor and city council, Marfa city council and school board, the Big Bend Regional Hospital District and others.
Read more…
Pollard commencement speaker
ALPINE -- Trisha Pollard, vice chairman of the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System,
will deliver the commencement address during Sul Ross State University’s spring graduation exercises, scheduled tomorrow, May 10.
Ceremonies will be at 10 a.m. in the Pete P. Gallego Center on the Alpine Campus and at 7:30 p.m. in
Read more…MARATHON – Jean Palmisano was named “Grand Champion” and Sara Castle won the “People’s Choice” award at the 12th annual Marathon Basin
Quilting Guild’s quilt show at the Gage Hotel Saturday.
Despite what started off as a very windy and cold day, the weather cleared up and a total of 86 quilts were hung for display.
Read more…COUNT ‘EM – Lucy Applegate has a few new ribbons for her display case – eight to be exact. She took home all those ribbons from the
12th Annual Basin Quilt Show Saturday at the Gage Hotel in Marathon.
HISTORIC TRIP – Andrea Johnson prepared to leave with Omar Grano and Zach Gonzales for Austin last week. The two boys advanced to
the State History Fair. Not pictured but tagging along on the trip was Coach Gene Peña.
MARQUEE DE MARATHON – The Marathon Student Council is seeking funds to replace the marquee at the school. Donate to a new sign and
see your name in lights – or at least with the horseshoe logo on the new sign, they say.
PAPERCRETE – Former painting restorer Geoff Lemmer, left, and Clyde Curry, “supreme painter” of Eve's Garden posed in front of stacks
of papercrete bricks at Lemmer's yard this week. Lemmer is now captain of the Marathon Volunteer Fire Dept. The two cooperate in the
manufacture and construction of papercrete buildings.
ALPINE – The public library here recognized three of its volunteers with awards at the 2008 luncheon for Volunteer Big Bend Monday.
Chris Ruggia won an award for his service on the Board of Directors as a former officer of the board and chair of various committees, as well as being “the go-to guy for graphics and Web Page design and maintenance.”
Read more…
MOMMY WILL LOVE THIS – Kate Roberts painted a flowerpot for her mom for Mother’s Day. The young artist belongs to Mary and Odie
Roberts of Sanderson, and is in Kindergarten.
TRUE TO FORM – It wouldn’t be Cinco de Mayo in Sanderson without a dance by Tony and Edelmira Calzada and they didn’t disappoint
Saturday. The crowds were sparse and the weather cool and cloudy. And since this is the last year for their daughter Yolanda Connelly
at the helm, Cinco is in need of new leadership.
BLOW MAN BLOW – Members of the Dove-award-winning Christian Latin band Salvador performed Saturday night at the first annual “Awaken
the Desert” concert at Jackson Field in Alpine. From left to right were Craig Swift, Leif Shires and Herman Jimenez.
