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.  

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.

                                     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.

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."

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.