STARTING YOUNG – Sanderson Clinic Nurse Kathy Lawson posed recently with Grace Jahn, left, and sister Katie. The young ladies, daughters of Pharmacist Jill Jahn, helped with a spaghetti supper to raise funds for Cactus Health Services, Inc., which provides rural health care in Sanderson and Fort Stockton.

PUNCH LIST – A “punch list” of items that needed correcting with the recent construction of six new tennis courts was a handicapped parking space at the south end of the courts. Problems? Too steep and too far from the entrance. New spaces are being built closer to the action.

new this year Eric Cooksey, a Sanderson native who has been teaching music in Ysleta, near El Paso, is TCISD’s new band director. Band activities started with a meeting last night, Aug. 7, and a first “rehearsal” will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at band hall.

ATCHER SERVICE – Sanderson Clinic staff members include, from left, Receptionist Lupe Sanchez, Outreach Coordinator Karen Sanchez, Executive Director Teresa Smith, Medical Director Dr. J.P. Schwartz and Nurse Kathy Lawson. The health service will observe National Health Center Week starting Monday.

VOCATIONAL PROJECT – A pile of rubble lies in the path of the new vocational education building just east of the current Sanderson Junior High School building. Contractor Albert Thorn removed the small house that had been used for storage for several years. He had not yet hauled away the debris when news cameras happened by this week.

FOOTLOOSE – Sanderson High School freshman Robert Montalvo showed some fancy footwork Monday as the football Eagles started a new season with two-a-day practices. Robert is one of three freshmen and two sophomores who will provide new blood to a team already picked as one “to watch” in the coming season.

AMBASSADOR JACOB – Jacob Benavidez was the Sanderson representative to the Hugh O’Brien Leadership Conference in El Paso this summer. He called the meeting “amazing.” Among his activities was being asked to pen a letter to President George W. Bush, thanking him for his interest in HOBY.

MUSICAL FROG – Otto Turner was fascinated with a wooden musical “frog” from Thailand at a music camp Monday at Sanderson Elementary School. Little brother Zane ‘Scooter’ looked on. The frog has a ridged back which, when rubbed, provides rhythm for music creation.

NEW CLASSROOMS – Sanderson High School classes will be in a new building to be built just south of the existing Junior High School building, the octagonal building in the foreground looking south. Three major projects to be financed by the successful $14 million bond election last year include the new classroom, a vocational building to the east of the Junior High and a new field house.

Photo by Jason Hennington

FOUR GENERATIONS – 2008 Sul Ross graduate Ryan Zent displayed a 1949 Brand yearbook showing his grandfather, Wylie McMillan, who graduated in 1955 following four years in the US Navy. Ryan Zent, of Tucson, received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2007 and will receive an MBA tomorrow. He is a fourth generation graduate of Sul Ross.

NEW LIFE – The Shafter Mine, closed for 66 years, will get new life in 2010. Aurcana of Vancouver, BC, has bought the mine and plans to restart the mining for silver to take advantage of prices nearing $20 per troy ounce.

PUBLIC ACCESS – The public would gain access to the rugged Christmas Mountains north of Big Bend National Park under a draft agreement between the Texas Land Office and Terlingua Ranch. An earlier easement from Big Bend provided some access, but only via a harsh four-mile hike.

ROYAL KIDS – Camry Lopez and Andrew Cavender were crowned St. James Festival queen and king last month. We had camera problems and the pictures from proud Mom Alma Lopez did not get here in time. So the picture last week was less than perfect. Here’s what the kids really look like. Camry is the daughter of Rick and Alma Lopez of Midland and Andrew is the son of Myleah Stratton of Jasper.