August 2025

June 26, 1934 – August 22, 2025 Dean Jernigan Deerfield of Midland, Texas was born in Simms, Texas to Newt and Francis (McKnight) Jernigan, and was 91 at her passing. Dean graduated from Texarkana High School in 1952 and later earned an associate degree in Child Development from Midland College, an achievement she cherished.

The Fort Stockton City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, August 25, addressing a range of issues impacting residents, from property taxes and local business opportunities to significant longterm economic development plans and city governance.

The Pecos County Memorial Hospital District Directors convened Tuesday, August 19, where they approved a reduction in the 2025 tax rate, adopted the 2026 budget, and greenlit a major tax abatement for a new solar energy project. The board also reviewed significant financial and administrative reports, approved numerous contracts for facility improvements and services, and discussed ongoing efforts to enhance patient care and hospital operations.

The Pecos County Commissioners Court approved its 2026 budget and set the total tax rate at 0.7196 cents per $100 of taxable value during a regular session Monday, August 25, confronting declining mineral values and state legislative impacts on county revenue.

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The West Texas Water Research Center (WTWRC) at Sul Ross State University is surging ahead, with interim leadership in place, a seasoned research scientist joining the team, and a stakeholder-driven planning process underway. Housed within the university’s Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) and launched with a challenge grant from the Horizon Foundation, the WTWRC will deliver science-based solutions to address West Texas’ most pressing water issues and will focus on water availability, recharge, and sustainability in the Trans-Pecos.

Residents in rural communities across Texas and Louisiana are set to benefit significantly from a new $1.3 million federal grant aimed at expanding and enhancing telehealth services, helping to bridge healthcare gaps where access can be challenging.

Today, the Texas Senate approved House Bill 4, an unnecessary mid-decade redistricting plan orchestrated by President Trump to pick up 5 additional Republican seats in Congress, undermining Texans’ faith in democracy. State Senator César J. Blanco stood firmly against the bill, calling it a blatant power grab and a dangerous departure from the Constitution.

Editor's note: It is important to note that an arrest should not be considered evidence of guilt, all defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The following list is provided by the Pecos County Sheriff's Department.

The Sul Ross State University Football Team will open their 2025 football season on the road with a historic matchup against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, August 30, at 7:00 PM at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg, Texas.