June 2022

4-H state food challenge qualifiers recognized

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Three Pecos County 4-H students were recognized for their state-qualifying achievement at the Pecos
County Commissioner Court regular meeting on June 27.

Mikki Mandujano, James Garrison, and Bryon Garrison were the state qualifiers.

The students qualified for state by showing exemplary knowledge of nutrition and the ability to put together a meal without instruction in a 40-minute span.

4-H students that competed in the state meet included, James Garrison of Fort Stockton, second from left; Mikki Mandujano of Coyanosa, middle; Bryon Garrison of Fort Stockton, second from right. Also pictured is Agricultural and Natural Resources 4-H Agent Payton Keifer, left, and Karan Heffelfinger, right. The students are pictured at Monday’s Commissioner Court meeting at the Pecos County Courthouse. Photo by Nathan Heuer

‘Produce Pod’ visits Fort Stockton

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On June 21, the West Texas Food Bank sent its “Produce Pod” to Our Lady of Guadalupe Food Bank. The ‘pod’ is a refrigerated trailer that delivers fresh produce, eggs, and dairy goods to food banks in a five-county area to supplement the nutritional needs of food bank clients.

The pod contained 4,700 pounds of fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk, and cheese.

Fresh Produce

Calistra Acosta Valenzuela

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Calistra Acosta Valenzuela passed away quietly at home with her family on Friday, June 24, 2022.Calistra was born in Fort Stockton, Texas, on April 22, 1921, to Lazaro Acosta and Miquela Salmon Acosta. 

Calistra Acosta Valenzuela

FSA accepting nominations for local committees

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting nominations for county committee members. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for members. LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction. This may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area.

USDA

SRSU choir camp starts July 1

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The Sul Ross State University Music Department and Big Bend Children’s Chorus will host a choir camp for kids in grades 2-8 beginning Friday, July 1.

The cost to attend is $25. Students will practice daily from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Francois Fine Arts Building on the Alpine campus. They will perform with the Alpine Community Band at 7:30 p.m. at Kokernot Park on July 4 during the Independence Day celebration.

Sul Ross University

IDM programs to combat unsafe driving

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The Texas Department of Public Safety will be increasing the number of Texas Highway Patrol Troopers on the road from Thursday, June 24, through Sunday, July 10, as part of the Intoxicated Driving Mobilization (IDM) - Specific Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).

DPS troopers will be on the roads looking for drivers who are speeding, driving while intoxicated or not wearing their seat belts. The goal of the IDM STEP program is to reduce the number of DWI-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

DPS

Congressman Gonzales offers amendments on border security

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Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) offered three amendments on Friday during the House Homeland Security Appropriations Full Committee Markup.

The proposed amendments aimed to increase border security funding for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), plus up funding for the Operation Stonegarden grant program, and prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from engaging in transactions with certain Chinese military companies.

Tony Gonzales

Capital Highlights: Abortion officially illegal in Texas

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe vs. Wade effectively ends all legal abortions in Texas within the next 30 days, many news media outlets reported.

“Planned Parenthood and Whole Woman’s Health, with clinics across Texas, stopped performing abortions following Friday’s decision, due to uncertainty about how the ruling will affect the state's trigger law and a long-standing ban on abortion that predates Roe v. Wade, officials with those organizations said,” according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Texas Capitol

A new way to use cast iron

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For those who have ever cooked in cast iron, you know nothing beats it. If you are like me, it is your go-to cookware option. If I want to make enchilada sauce, I grab my cast iron skillet. If I want to brown my meat for chile verde or asado, I use my cast iron chicken fryer. If it is pancakes or tortillas, it is my cast iron comal. There just is not any cookware out there that beats it.

Skillet Nacho Dip

Victor P. “Bud” Kipgen III

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Victor P. "Bud" Kipgen III was born to Victor P. Kipgen Jr. and Edith M. Kipgen on Dec. 22, 1950, in Fort Stockton, Texas.

He was raised in Midland, Texas, graduating from Robert E. Lee High School. He joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, and trained in Sere School to be a River Rat in Vietnam. His group was not called up.

He worked in Houston, Texas, El Paso, Texas, and Fort Stockton.

Victor P. “Bud” Kipgen III