August 2025

PRACTICE MAKES EXCELLENCE

The inaugural Trooper Kevin Ramirez-Vasquez Blue Valor Fitness Challenge brought together first responders, families, and community members on Saturday for a morning of friendly competition, fitness, and remembrance. Held from 8 a.m.

The Alpine Cowboys’ 2025 season came to a close last Thursday evening after falling in two straight games to the Pecos Bills in the opening round of the Pecos League playoffs. Despite entering the postseason red-hot and with home-field advantage, the Cowboys couldn’t hold off the surging Bills, who took both games at Kokernot Field to advance in the Mountain Division semifinal series.

The Fort Stockton Inter-governmental Recreation Board appointed Elizabeth (Liz) Mata as interim Recreation Director during a special meeting held August 4, at City Hall. The appointment, approved unanimously by the board, will see Mata serve in the position for up to six months while the board works toward filling the role permanently.

Fort Stockton native Jorge Castaneda continues to raise the bar in the world of competitive powerlifting. Castaneda, a 1989 graduate of Fort Stockton High School and former Panther football player, recently won gold in the bench press at the USA Powerlifting National Championships held in Philadelphia. Competing in the 110-kilogram weight class in the Masters 2 division, Castaneda pressed an impressive 212.5 kilograms—approximately 468 pounds—to claim the national title.

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.

GARDENER’S MAILBAG Dear Neil, I have a home in Central Texas with bermed limestone rock cut into the soil behind my house and garage. It is about six ft.

Photos are from the Fort Stockton Pioneer archives at the Pioneer’s office located at 808 W. Dickinson Ste A, Fort Stockton, TX 79735.

In our comfortable church pews and familiar routines, it's easy to forget the urgent mission we've been given. The Great Commission isn't a suggestion – it's a command. But how often do we truly take the gospel outside our walls?

“For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name/ There is booze, there is booze…” – apologies to Paul Stookey According to the Wall Street Journal, six percent of couples polled by wedding-planning website Zola will host a completely alcohol-free wedding in 2025. (Coincidentally, six percent of America’s potential guests find themselves telling each other, “Dear, I’d love to attend your sister’s wedding in November, but I think that’s the weekend I’m having an emergency elective root canal, darn it.”) Yes, whether it’s because of health-consciousness, religious values or guilt about unleashing inebriated guests on the highway, more couples are embracing the “dry” weddings trend.