June 2023

Paul Casias is the new mayor of Fort Stockton. Casias defeated James B.

The monthly Big Bend Area Law Enforcement Officers Association meeting brought more than 60 officers and deputies from local, state, and federal agencies across the Big Bend to Fort Stockton on June 15. “It was started in 1970 in Brewster County,” said Pecos County Sheriff TJ Perkins.

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The Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department will install a new garage to protect emergency vehicles thanks to a grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority. The $13,448 Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $3,400 in matching funds, will enable the department to add a new 24x24-foot garage to help protect fire trucks and specialized equipment from the weather.

A former Fort Stockton Police Sergeant was arrested June 16 and charged with alleged sex crimes against a child. Enrique Gonzalez Irigoyen, of Fort Stockton, was detained at 7:29 p.m.

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A mural by the mysterious artist Clifton Baermann has found a new home in the Emmett and Miriam McCoy Building, which opens to the public Saturday, June 24, at the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine. The oil on canvas is quite large – 82 inches high by 270 inches wide – and covers the entire southern facing wall just outside of the events center, which is housed inside the new building on the campus of Sul Ross State University.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick claimed last week that Gov. Greg Abbott is sabotaging the Senate’s work because of their ongoing feud over which approach to property tax reform is best, The Dallas Morning News reported. Abbott vetoed three bills by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, who has been Patrick’s point senator on increasing homestead exemptions in order to provide tax cuts. As of Friday afternoon, he had vetoed 31 bills.

It is important to note that an arrest should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sul Ross State’s Tristen Hutchings made college rodeo history by winning his second national Bull Riding championship at the 2023 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. Will Eddleman finished 33rd in the nation in Team Roping and sixth in the nation in Steer Roping. Hutchings scored 236 points on three rides to claim the championship. He was second in round one with a score of 67 points, second in round two with 85 points, and round three with 84 points.