April 2023

Jackson advances to regional track meet

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Junior Ali Jackson became a three-time regional qualifier on Thursday at the Prowlers’ area track meet in Canyon.

Jackson placed fourth in both the 400-meter dash and the 200. The upperclassman clocked the second sub-minute 400 time of her career and personal-record 59.56 seconds en route to her area qualification.

Jackson’s 26.64 second 200 meter time was also a personal record, topping her previous best mark by .10 seconds.

Ali Jackson completes the 800-meter run in first place at the West of the Pecos Relays on March 3. Photo by Nathan Heuer

Capital Highlights: Dueling tax proposals in the Lege

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The Texas House passed a bill promising $17 billion in tax relief, a measure that is at odds with the Senate’s tax break plan, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The House bill would lower by half a home’s cap on appraisal increases. It passed overwhelmingly, 141-9. However, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, said that body will not approve it, preferring its plan to raise property exemptions from $40,000 to $70,000.

Texas Capitol

Senate approves $308 billion budget

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The Senate gave unanimous support Monday to a plan that would spend $308 billion in state and federal funds over the next two years.

Lawmakers came into Austin with $32 billion left over from the last budget and have used that surplus to increase salaries for state employees, teachers, healthcare workers, increase benefits for retired teachers, and to enact the largest property tax cut in state history.

Texas Capitol

Panther track and field: Hodges, 800 relay win area titles

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Six Panthers punched their ticket to the regional track meet and Fort Stockton finished in third place as a team on Thursday at the 4A District 3-4 Area Track & Field Championships at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.

Zane Hodges added another individual area title to his resume after claiming gold in the 110 hurdles a season ago.

Isaiah Garcia, left, hands the baton to his cousin, Marco Garcia, during the 400-meter relay at the West of the Pecos Relays at Pecos High School on March 3. Photo by Nathan Heuer

Leadership Fort Stockton now taking applications for 2023-24 class

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The Fort Stockton Adult Leadership Program provides both professional and personal growth opportunities through education and experience for adults over the age of 18 in the community.

The Fort Stockton Chamber of Commerce and leadership program encourages businesses to enroll managers and team leaders in the program – participants gain useful leadership skills and develop community connections that benefit not only themselves but their employers as well.

Leadership Fort Stockton Logo

Kids, Kows & More

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The Kids Kows & More, a public charitable organization, hosted an event for 225 elementary and grade school students on April 20 at the Pecos County Coliseum. Students from Monahans ISD, Balmoreha ISD, and Fort Stockton Chrisitan Academy learned about how agriculture impacts daily life at various stations. See photos and write-up in next week’s paper.

Kids, Kows & More

3 contested races set for May 6 election

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Three new candidates will be elected to local government boards or councils in the upcoming May 6 election. The Fort Stockton Mayor seat, City Council Place 1, and Fort Stockton ISD School Board Ward 1 have at least three candidates apiece running for one seat.
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Keep Historic Fort Stockton Beautiful Trash-Off

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More than 30 community, city and school volunteers were up bright and early Saturday morning for the annual Keep Historic Fort Stockton Beautiful Trash-Off. Volunteers gathered at the recycle center on Valentine Street, then went to various locations along streets and highways across Fort Stockton to pick up trash. The volunteers were rewarded with lunch and prizes afterwards. Photos by Shawn Yorks
Keep Historic Fort Stockton Beautiful Trash-Off

Diaz’s 9 K’s not enough as Panther bats go frigid

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On the hill, Fort Stockton freshman starting pitcher Gerry Diaz had ice in his veins during his 4 2/3 innings stint on April 14 against Greenwood. Diaz ended three of the first four innings with a strikeout, including a bases loaded jam in the second frame, and tied a careerhigh strikeout total with nine K’s in his fifth start of the season.
Fort Stockton’s Xzavier Dominguez (23) tags first base in time for an out, beating Greenwood’s Rance Purser (10) to the bag. Dominguez had one putout in the game with one opportunity, resulting in a perfect fielding percentage during the contest on the Panthers homefield on April 14. Photo by Nathan Heuer