April 2022

Just 95 days after closing its doors for the foreseeable future, the Grey Mule Wine Saloon is reopening under new ownership.

The historic wine tasting room in Fort Stockton will hold a reopening event on Thursday, April 21 from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the business’ newly revamped building. The event will feature live music by Al Haney from 6-8 p.m., as well their regular menu that features food (cheese and meat boards/pizza) and a variety of beverages.

Fort Stockton’s three-game losing streak is over and the Panthers’ offense is back to firing on all cylinders.

The Panthers baseball team had scored a total of five runs in their past three games heading into Tuesday’s home bout against Pecos and Fort Stockton doubled that in six innings during their 10-5 win over the Eagles on April 19.

The victory evened the season series at 1-1 between the squads after Fort Stockton fell in a 14-13 slugfest in their first matchup of the season on March 29.

In Alpine on April 13, a Fort Stockton man pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing methamphetamine.

April 14

Erlinda Michelle Chavez, of Fort Stockton at 4:25 p.m., officers from the Department of Public Safety apprehended Chavez on three warrants: failure to appear-possession of a controlled substance penalty group one less than one gram, failure to appear-bail jumping and fail to appear, GJI-bail jumping and fail to appear. The 112th Judge recalled Chavez’s warrants and was released on April 15.

Belding Farms, one of the largest pecan growers in Texas, and Texas Water Trade, a nonprofit water-conservation organization, have launched their first joint project in Pecos County to save irrigation water through low-evaporation sprinklers.

The project is being carried out on 96 acres of Belding Farms’ trees and is designed to determine whether they produce more pecans using the sprinkler system, whether less labor is required for the irrigation process, and how much water may be saved.

The Fort Stockton softball team is back in the postseason for the first time since 2019, and they left no doubts they should be there with an emphatic win against Pecos on April 19 to end the regular season.

Yadira Hernandez hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game via mercy rule with an 11-1 victory. The dinger was the second of the junior’s career and the first this season.

Jesus “Salvador” Leon Morales, 64, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2022, in Midland, Texas. He was born June 28, 1957, in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, to Amador Morales and Heriberta Leon Perez. 

Salvador was a beloved father and grandfather who loved barbecuing, fishing, raising roosters, and going to the horse races. He enjoyed the company of his family and friends. 

For the first time since 2010, the Fort Stockton boys track team are district champions.

The Panthers derailed Andrews’ 11-year district reign by overcoming a 23-point deficit to the Mustangs to capture the District 2-4A team title. Fort Stockton won the two-day event by one point on April 14.

The Panthers claimed six gold medals, three silver medals, and seven bronze medals in route to a title. In total, 11 Fort Stockton athletes advanced to regionals in the boys division.

Several cities across the state of Texas participated in a widespread litter pick-up day on Saturday, April 9, including the city of Fort Stockton. Volunteers gathered at James Rooney Memorial Park on Saturday morning to register for the event and pick up their supplies, including a neon yellow shirt to alert passing drivers that they are participating in the Don't Mess with Texas Trash-Off. Families and people from all ages were invited to help keep Fort Stockton beautiful.