May 2024

In my last column, I admitted to some things I’ve never done in my 50-something-year-old-dudetype- person life. (I still haven’t been to Hooters.) So, of course, that discussion brought to mind a few things I’ve actually accomplished – or committed – and deeply regret.

Seven Texas counties have been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for grants for emergency work and replacement of disaster-damaged public infrastructure, after severe weather and flooding struck much of Deep East Texas, Gov. Gregg Abbott’s office reported. Counties eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance program include Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker.

Holidays can sometimes be confusing. I was always clear about Veterans Day in November. When I was growing up in Odessa on November 11 the veterans of World War I were plentiful and always downtown near the courthouse and post office. They would offer paper poppies for us to wear. As John McCrea wrote, “In Flander’s Field where poppies grow, between the crosses row on row.” We knew the importance of Veteran’s Day, celebrating the end of World War I.

The Texas Historical Commission awarded a 2023 Distinguished Service Award to Pecos County Historical Commission (PCHC) on Tuesday, May 28. The annual award recognized the Pecos County Historical Commission for their exemplary initiation and execution of comprehensive programs that preserve Texas’ diverse historic and cultural resources. The award was presented by the Honorable Judge Shuster during County Commissioners’ court.

Sul Ross State University is pleased to introduce Sully Shelf, an innovative new partnership with Follett Access to reduce the cost of textbooks and course materials for students starting with the Fall 2024 semester.

The downtown Alpine business district has not seen such devastation from fire since 1911 when a fire broke out and destroyed the entire downtown area. But just like everyone who lives here today, those folks were resilient, coming together to rebuild their livelihood.

Long-time Midland College Professor Anita Shellenberger is retiring after 30 years of service to the college, Williams Regional Technical Training Center, and the citizens of Pecos County. The faculty and staff of the WRTTC held a lunch to honor Anita on Monday at the WRTTC. Anita recalled how when the Midland College Regional Technical Training Center was being built, she told her children she would be teaching there one day, in 1995 that became a reality. In that time frame, she taught computer technology classes (now referred to as Information Technology), sometimes as many as 11 courses in a semester to meet the needs of students seeking that knowledge. Now faculty are limited to only five courses a semester. Over her tenure at the WRTTC, she has built an Office Systems program that is now referred to in the community as “Anita’s Classes”. Former students regularly contact Anita for answers to questions, of which she gladly shares her knowledge.

On May 26, Concepcion (Chon) Gomez passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. Chon was born on Dec 08, 1934, in San Benito, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to Seberino and Jesusita Gomez.

spot, Bienvenidos. Elpidio “Pete” P. Garcia was born in Fort Stockton to Nicolas David Garcia and Paulina Pina on March 3rd, 1941. He attended school in Fort Stockton. He shared 50 years of marriage with the love of his life, Delia G. Garcia.

During the Fort Stockton City Council meeting on May 13, council members approved an agreement with Apex Clean Energy for the purchase of water for the Pecos Flats green hydrogen facility that’s currently in development. The agreement is for $300,000 a year during the option period and an estimate of up to $7.3M a year during operations. The water will be sourced from the Pecos Valley Alluvium and/or Rustler Aquifers, water sources currently used mainly for industrial and agricultural purposes.