ALPINE TROTTINET – Jessica Garza of Sanderson got up close and personal with the Swiss Alps in her rented “trottinet,” a two-wheel scooter. Jessica toured Europe this summer as a “People to People ambassador.”

TO GROW ON – The Terrell County Fire Department on Oak Street, Highway 90, will be expanded and a new fire truck added. County Commissioners agreed to buy a used structural fire truck from Fort Stockton and to provide the slab for an extension of the building.

NOT HERE – A visitor not familiar with Terrell County this week followed the sign, turning north at Oak and First Streets, to find the courthouse. Aha, he figured. It’s right there. No, that’s the old Masonic Lodge, now a private residence. After entering and calling “hello” a few times, he was politely told the courthouse was two blocks further north.

LOBOS COMING – The two-bedroom, two-bath “fourplex” at the “Dos Lobos” housing project at Third and Mansfield in Sanderson is taking shape. Developer Sharon Wolfe said the one-bedroom duplex is completed and one of the two units has been rented. “They are ready right now,” she said. The fourplex should be done in September and applications are being accepted. Two rental houses are also on the property.

BRIDGEWORK – Work will begin on the Pecos River Bridge near Langtry Aug. 18, an official of the Texas Department of Transportation said Tuesday. TxDOT Public Information Officer Raul Leal of Laredo told Donna Smith, center, and Martha Allen traffic will be reduced to one lane on the 51-year-old bridge for the 20 months of the project.

HALF A LIFETIME – Bill Goldwire of Sanderson was honored Monday for providing more than 43 years of rain-gauge monitoring. Goldwire kept a log of rainfall on a 15-minute basis with a meter provided by the US Weather Service at his ranch north of town.

OLDER THAN DIRT – News Leader Publisher Jim Street, center, accepted an award for all of Sanderson Monday for 111 years of weather reporting services. Making the award were Susan Griffin and Pat Vesper of the US Weather Service. The News Leader is the latest in a string of daily weather reporters going back to Sept. 1, 1896.

WHERE THE ELK – and the antelope play. Mark Glover of the News Leader Marathon Bureau spotted this big rack from US Highway 90 between Marathon and Alpine. Elk are not as common as deer in the area but, as this picture will attest, they are not a rarity either.

CAMP BOUND – Three Sanderson High School students headed to band camp in San Angelo last week. Set to go, from left, were Cordell Lawson, Juliana Castro and Jimmy Rapp. The Band Boosters paid for the trip as well as repair on the students’ instruments.

STATE YOUR CASE – Boys and Girls State delegates, from left, Carver Tate, Jimmy Rapp and Raquel Hinkley reported on their experiences Monday to the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary. The Legion sponsored the Boys State delegates and the Auxiliary sponsored Raquel.

CHEER FLOAT – Sanderson High School cheerleaders for the 2008-09 school year participated in the Fourth of July parade this month. Julianna Larrinaga was hiding in the “Beaker” costume as the mascot. Others, from left, were Alexa Davis, Blakeney Chriesman, Clarissa Brotherton, Taylor Johnson, Lizette Ramirez and Roxanna Rodriguez.

GRANDMA’S PRIDE –Leah, Trinidad and Eric Rubio of Katy were among the visitors at their grandmother Yolie Connelly in Sanderson last week. Also in the crowd Danielle Villa of Monahans. July 4 is always a time for visiting and this year was no exception.

Terra Peters

REC. STATERS – A dozen kids representing Terrell County Recreation Program go to Austin for the state finals in track and field next week. They are, first row, from left, Austen Stepp, Jacob Helmers, Matthew Portillo and Hunter Truesdell. Second row, Denae Fisher, Jesse Roberts, Andrew Portillo and Al Johnson. Back row, Gabriel Portillo, Travis Roberts, William Roberts and Danielle Fisher. Danielle chose not to compete.