News

The Pecos County Sheriff’s Department will soon receive 25 new Axon Tasers in the amount of $20,000 for use by its deputies. 

The item was approved in March but was amended at the April 10 Pecos County Commissioner’s Court meeting after the court previously approved $15,000. 

“We’re going to have to split this between this year and next year for $5,000,” said Pecos County Judge Joe Shuster. “We’ve already agreed to the $15,000.” 

Sheriff T.J. Perkins said the tasers will be a valuable asset to the department. 

The most challenging road race in the world is back this weekend. 

The roar of engines speeding on Highway 285 is a sign of spring here in West Texas, just as sure as the thawing of land in the north, the start of the NBA playoffs, and Opening Day in baseball tell America that winter has concluded. 

This year marks the 26th time the fourth Saturday of April will see the closure of Highway 285 for the Big Bend Open Road Race. 

The race runs south from Fort Stockton to Sanderson and back – about 59 miles each way – or 118 miles total, just as it was in 1997. 

Fort Stockton’s city council, at its April 10 meeting, heard an update on the Blue Ridge Farms property the city owns off County Road 109. 

Alex Gonzalez with BioCatters LLC – an investment and management group looking to develop renewable fuels and energy sources that the City of Fort Stockton has contracted with – said that improvements are being made to access the property, and plans are forthcoming to improve roads, gates and cattle guards onsite. 

The Texas House approved a $302 billion budget last week that included an amendment prohibiting the use of state money on private school tuition — a major setback to Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to establish a school voucher system. The Austin American-Statesman reported that more than 20 Republicans joined nearly all House Democrats to pass the amendment, while 11 lawmakers voted present.

The amendment is seen as a rebuke to Abbott, who has traveled the state pushing what he calls “school choice.”