January 2023

Braulio Ramirez Lopez, 75 of Fort Stockton, Texas passed away on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Odessa, Texas. 

Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. to noon at Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend 301 N. Main St. Fort Stockton, Texas 79735.  Rosary will be recited at noon.  Funeral Mass will be Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, at 2:00PM at 2:00PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 401 S. Main St. Fort Stockton, Texas 79735. Burial will follow at Fort Stockton Catholic Cemetery. 

Texas is rodeo country. 

Fort Stockton’s Comanche Springs Rodeo is growing in popularity, and Chamber of Commerce officials are working hard to add more events and make the rodeo itself easier to enjoy. 

And when rodeo fans pack the Pecos County Coliseum March 23-25, they’ll find there’s not a bad seat in the house. 

That hasn’t always been the case and the chamber received numerous complaints. 

But, the chutes have now been moved. 

Open range land for grazing cattle is a West Texas tradition dating to the 19th Century and is still practiced today in some parts of Pecos County. But a high volume of vehicular traffic – specifically on F.M. 1053 and F.M. 1450 – has created dangerous conditions for drivers.  

Jennifer Gonzales addressed the commissioner’s court on Jan. 9 in the hopes that range land could be fenced in order to keep the cattle off the road. 

Buena Vista got off to a slow start in Tuesday’s District 10-1A matchup against Iraan, but in the end, the Lady Longhorns rolled to a 45-25 win in the intra-county rivalry and solidified their second-place spot in the district with three games to play. 

Iraan briefly led in the early moments of the game before Buena Vista (13-9 overall, 6-1 district) took control. 

For Buena Vista head boys basketball coach Aaron Notgrass, it’s all about the effort. Which player is going to put in the effort, not necessarily the most scoring numbers, to help win the game. And in Tuesday’s night’s District 10-1A matchup with Iraan, the entire team put in the work and the Longhorns were rewarded with a 52-49 win, securing second place in the district behind Rankin. 

Photos by Shawn Yorks

Carmon Henderson, 82, of Fort Stockton, Texas passed away on Jan. 5, 2023, in his home, surrounded by his wife and children.

The tallest flagpole in Pecos County was placed today at Hilltop RV Park along Interstate 10, just west of Fort Stockton.

The pole sits 150 feet above ground (50 yards) and can be seen on the north side of I-10. Flags will be placed on the pole later today.

New owner Joe Hernandez, who bought the business in November 2022, said that he thankful to be an American and those who fought for our freedom.