LINEUP – The Terrell County Courthouse is the site of the turnaround each year for the Big Bend Open Road Race. This was the scene last year. There were about 150 cars signed up for the April 26 race at press time, the same as the number last year.

CIVICS CLASS – Members of Irma Mendoza’s second grade class at Sanderson Elementary School were present for the Terrell County Commissioners Court meeting Monday. Mendoza brings her class to see “local government in action” every year.

FORT AWARD – Fort Lancaster Curator and Interpreter Kinley Coyan presented Erin Corbett with her winning senior essay yesterday, April 17, at Sanderson High School. Erin will also receive a $250 scholarship funded by The Terrell County Hunter’s Feast on behalf of Fort Lancaster. Erin’s essay will appear in The News Leader next week.

MAKE SENSE? – US Rep. Ciro Rodriguez told a Sanderson audience Saturday a wall along the US-Mexico border might be needed in some areas. But it has to “make sense” and he faulted the Department of Homeland Security for not meeting with state and local officials and private owners on plans for the fence. Looking on were Veronica Luevano, left, and Barbara Smith.

COMMAND POST – Terrell County Road and Bridge workers Johnny Garza, left, and Dale Stratton showed County Judge Leo Smith how a mobile command post was shaping up. Smith said the trailer, which the county acquired from Big Tex Trailers of Odessa for $5,100, will be a fully-equipped command post for use in emergencies.

BOUGHT BY GRACE – This young band entertained at the Terrell County Courthouse last week. Shown from left were Jacob Brady, Dustin Shirley, Veronica Richardson and T.J. Cathey.

WELCOME TO NHS – Inductees into the National Honor Society this week were Sanderson High School sophomores, from left, Jacob Benavidez, Darren Seidel, Vicky Busch and Jessica Garza. They were welcomed into NHS in a special assembly Wednesday.

NOW OPEN – The Christmas Mountains near Big Bend National Park is now open for business. Hikers and campers – as well as hunters – will be able to use the park. Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has insisted that guns be permitted in the park. Access to the top of the mountain is still blocked by private property in Terlingua Ranch but Patterson said his staff is working on eliminating those barriers.

PERFECT SCORE – Nelda Treviño of Eagle Pass got all of her tennis balls onto traffic cones at the Buzzard Rally in Sanderson this month. Biker Fred Solis held the machine on course while Nelda did the placement. The couple also won the similar straw in the bottle contest.

ANY IDEAS? – County Judge Leo Smith met Monday with about 40 people in a workshop to explore ways to improve preparedness in the county. The meeting was called to better prepare for emergencies like the 51,400-acre grass fire in northern Terrell and eastern Pecos Counties last month. He praised responders to preventing the loss of any structures, a task he said was more impressive because there were no injuries.

SHOW TIME – County Extension Agent Mark Carroll showed County Commissioners Court a slide show of the range fire last month in northern Terrell and Pecos Counties. Irma Mendoza’s second-grade class was also present as a civics lesson. The fire, one of the largest in a string of range fires last month burned more than 51,000 acres but no structures were lost and there were no injuries.

SHOW OF STRENGTH – Bikers at the Buzzard Rally in Sanderson this month paraded down Highway 90 to Legion Hall. The Seventh Annual Buzzard Rally brought motorcycle enthusiasts from across the state for bikes, beer games.

NO PRISON – Some have said the new tennis courts being built behind Sanderson High School “look like a prison.” The ten-foot chain-link fence may give that appearance but nothing could be further from the truth. When the new courts are completed, they will be available to anyone in the community, not just students.

FROM ON HIGH – The Pavilion in Bicentennial Park was clearly visible, lower left, in this picture taken from the top of Hominy Hill on the Cactus Capital Nature and Hiking Trail. The Pavilion will be host to the reception next week for the Big Bend Open Road Race and other events.

ROAD CLOSED – The sign says it all. US 285 between Sanderson and Fort Stockton will be closed Saturday, April 26, for the running of the Big Bend Open Road Race. Some 150 cars will compete for top speed and speed closest to their class speed during the event.

PAVING – Terrell County Road and Bridge equipment operator Ruben Rosas operated a maintainer behind the Courthouse this week. The sides of roads around the courthouse are being paved to keep down the dust. This land will be occupied by race cars next week during the Big Bend Open Road Race turnaround in Sanderson.