CARTEL HIGHWAY – The drug cartels in Mexico are apparently building new roads to make smuggling of narcotics and people easier. This system of highways leading up to the Rio Grande from the Mexican interior was photographed recently south of Dryden by a law-enforcement helicopter.  

NOT SO FAST – Sanderson Eagles Ralston Rosas, 31, Phillip Lascano, 19 and J.D. Brotherton, 20, teamed up to stop a run by an unidentified Rankin Red Devil last week. But Devils won anyway, though, 80-40, in a shootout at Rankin.

INTO THE PILE – Phillip Lascano, 19, pounced on Rankin’s Jesse Sanchez, 20, in the game with Rankin last week. Helping out were David Shoemaker, 85, Jimmy Rapp, 5, and Robert Montalvo, 9. The Eagles lost 80-40.

SWEEP FOR YARDAGE – Sanderson Eagle runner J.D. Brotherton, 20, started a sweep around left end Friday in the Eagles 80-40 loss to Rankin. Red Devils Jayton Fee, 22, and Garrett Lance, 8, tried to put an end to his gallop.

NEW LIFE – The Texas Youth Commission boot camp at Sheffield, closed at the end of March, was expected to open this week under the aegis of Seaborne ChalleNGe of Galveston, a Texas National Guard program for teens at risk. It was to open Monday but Hurricane Ike had other ideas. The Seaborne website had a brief statement that the campus will open Monday, Oct. 6.

RIBBON CUTTING – Some of Sanderson’s four Girl Scout troops took part in building ribbons and other decorations for tonight’s homecoming. Taking part, from left, were Daniella Barron, Lauryn Carroll, Kailey Dominguez, Aundria Harris and Arlena Blanco.    

YOUNG SCOUTS – Gabby Aguilar, left, and Kylie Dominguez contributed to Homecoming for the Sanderson Girl Scouts this week. The scouts in four Girl Scout troops in town helped prepare for tonight’s Homecoming activities and the football game with Buena Vista starting at 7:30 p.m.

PIGSKIN EXPRESS – Daniel Luevano ran down the field last week as the SJHS Eagles faced the Red Devils from Rankin. Daniel’s run was to no avail, though. The Eagles were “45d” at halftime by a score of 56-7.

STILL TIRED – Buddy Imboden, Lauryn Carroll, twin brother Luke and Hunter Truesdell were just too tired to get dressed this week, so they showed up to school in their PJs. Not really. It was pajama day at TCISD schools Wednesday to celebrate that Eagle spirit for Homecoming. Royalty will be crowned before tonight’s football game with Buena Vista at Eagle Stadium.

STAR STRUCK – John Pierce of Sanderson met a “movie star” recently. He went to Lubbock for a weekend of fun, visiting with his grandma and Peppo. The South Plains Fair was in town, so John and family decided to catch "Marshall Rowdy and the Doggies of the Wild West Show." There, John got to hold one of the stars of the new movie “Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

Ciro D. Rodriguez

RODEO ROYALTY – Sul Ross State University 2008 Rodeo Queen candidates were, from left, Amanda Renfro of North Richland Hills, Kaydi Kubala of El Campo, Sally Schmidt of Carrizo Springs and Alexandra Ashburner of Alpine, AZ. The winner will be crowned at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 4, at SALE Arena, prior to the 63rd Annual NIRA Rodeo.

SINGIN’ COWBOY – The last offer in Sanderson Arts and Education Alliance’s Toe Tappin Tuesday this fall was Oscar O’Bryant of Alpine. O’Bryant, an Amtrak conductor, is related to Sanderson pioneers W.D. O’Bryant and the Chandler family at Independence Creek. He entertained with cowboy songs old and new.

                                                          Photo by Adeline Beall, courtesy of The Skyline

RIO REALLY GRANDE – The Rio Grande as it passes under the La Linda Bridge south of Marathon was almost to the bottom of the bridge last week. The river was swollen both by heavy rains upstream and a release of water from Leon Reservoir in Mexico above Presidio. Rawles Williams navigated his way under the bridge. Also on board were Aimee Robertson and Thomas Schiller.

RAH RAH – Sanderson High School cheerleaders posed for a picture recently. They are, left to right top row, Alexa Davis, Blakeney Chriesman, Lizette Ramirez and “Beaker.” Inside Beaker was Jonathan Calzada. Front row from left were Roxanna Rodriguez, Taylor Johnson and Clarissa Brotherton.