September 2025

Dear Community Leaders, I am writing with deep concern about how the barrio in Fort Stockton is treated, especially in connection with Barrio Fest. While the festival is a wonderful celebration of our culture and history, it is disheartening that the neighborhood only receives attention when tourists are expected to visit. Streets are swept, trash is removed, and the area is temporarily made to look like it is cared for—but once the event is over, the day-to-day neglect quickly returns.

The second special session of the Texas Legislature ended last Thursday with a new congressional map, flood relief and safety measures but a stalemate on whether to ban or regulate THC. The Dallas Morning News reported that lawmakers approved most of the legislative priorities Gov. Greg Abbott listed for the special session.

“Here’s a novel idea: read more fiction,” blared the headline of a recent Wall Street Journal article by Gerard Baker. (The less said about that other Journal headline, “Here’s a limerick idea: buy a timeshare in Nantucket,” the better.) Baker gruffly lamented the digital age and society’s abhorrence of reading books in general, but he laid a particularly strong guilt trip on the males who do still read for gravitating toward nonfiction (history, biographies, self-help, The Big Book of Just A Couple of Beers, Officer Explanations, etcetera) instead of novels or short stories.

Maybe it was my being laid up after knee surgery or my wife caring for me when I got home. Anyway, it brought me to the place of thinking about life and some of the things that are important. I realized that relationships are one of the most important things we have in life, but we tend to take them for granted. As my wife was working so hard to take care of me, I found myself being very thankful for her and I told her I really appreciated all that she did for me. I also began to rethink my relationship to others and especially my relationship to God and I found that I fall short in thanking them or being thankful enough. People like to be appreciated, and they like to hear a sincere thank you every now and then. Maybe our fast-paced lifestyles or materialistic culture keeps us from thinking, evaluating and appreciating the important things of life. Jesus took time to thank God the Father for many things, for instance, food (Matthew 14:19). All through the Bible we find people giving thanks to God and we are told to do likewise (Psalm 86:12, 95:2,100:4, 139:14). Yes, there will be many who will not give thanks (Romans 1:21) but let’s be like the Samaritan leprous man who was healed and returned to thank Jesus but the other nine did not, (Luke 17:11-19). See you in Church next Sunday.

As the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) enters its 18th year, it is celebrating a transformational milestone. For the first time, the Texas Legislature has provided significant ongoing funding to support BRI’s mission of conserving the natural resources of the Chihuahuan Desert Borderlands through research, education and outreach.

On “Necessity of Prayer” by E. M. Bounds, ANEKO Press E. M. Bounds was a late 19th Century early 20th Century pastor who died in 1913. His friends published his manuscript after his death. This book is an updated version of the original manuscript. No publication date was given for this volume. The introduction tells the reader that Pastor Bounds spent his entire ministry in deep study and devotion to prayer.

The Sul Ross State University volleyball team (2-2) lost to New Mexico Highlands and Fort Lewis on Day 2 of the Mustang Invitational, Saturday at Drag’s Court. New Mexico Highlands (3-1) – L, 3-0 (25-- 21, 25-11, 25-16) The first set saw New Mexico Highlands get out to a 9-6 lead.

There’s no place like home for the Fort Stockton Panthers, who rebounded in a big way after a tough loss on the road the week before. In their home opener at the newly renovated Panther Stadium, Fort Stockton rolled past the Alpine Bucks with a commanding 59-16 victory. The win extended the Panthers’ dominance in the Highway 67 rivalry, marking their fifth straight victory over Alpine.

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On a warm September morning, the sound of laughter and quick volleys echoed across the newly renovated pickleball courts at Fort Stockton Intermediate School. About a dozen players came together, paddles in hand, proving once again that pickleball is more than just a game—it’s becoming a movement in Fort Stockton.