October 2025

Several Fort Stockton 4-H and FFA students showcased their hard work and dedication this past weekend, earning impressive placings at the highly competitive State Fair of Texas in Dallas. Leading the way was Carla Vazquez, who earned a coveted spot among the top 12 in Senior Showmanship—an outstanding achievement considering the field included more than 150 participants.

Residents of Fort Stockton and Pecos County are alerted to a series of important governmental meetings scheduled over the next two weeks, beginning with a full day of municipal and county business on October 14. These meetings cover everything from county infrastructure and land use to municipal planning and regional water management. All information is sourced from posted agendas.

In the October 2 paper, Volume 117, No. 41, Aileen Garcia and Mrs.

Landowners across West Texas are invited to attend a one-day workshop in Alpine on Nov. 13, 2025, from 9:00 a.m.4:00 p.m., designed to help them navigate a rapidly changing landscape of land use opportunities.

The same plaintiffs who are challenging the state’s 2021 congressional map are asking a panel of three federal judges to block using the new GOP-approved districts from being used in the March midterms. The Texas Tribune reported this is the first legal test for the redrawn districts, which are intended to increase the Texas congressional seats held by Republicans by five.

Goldman Sachs predicts artificial intelligence may displace up to 300 million jobs by 2027. Of course, I acquired that information from AI, so I have no idea if it’s true or if AI is just trying to bully me into making friends with it so it won’t render me as obsolete at work as I am at home.

Years ago, I had a few pigs, and they loved mud. The dirtier and smellier that mud hole was the better they liked it. I would move them to a clean pen; wash them off with clean fresh water but the first chance they got, right back into the mud. If they stayed out of the mud, I would scratch them and love them but no way with all that stinky mud on them.

“100 Ways God Speaks to You” was written by Robert A. Avila. No publisher or publication date given. In the preface the author states: “This book relates the many works our Heavenly Father performed to teach me to hear his voice, to trust Him, and to obey Him. My hope is that you will recognize your own experiences in these stories,” (Avila, pg. 4).

As we grow into the New Life offered by Lord Jesus, we are helped and guided by The Word of God and the Holy Spirit to become servants and vessels in the cause of God's Kingdom. To that end God has a calling and a purpose for each of us. The choice to respond is ours. As Deuteronomy 28: 1-2 promises, 'Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God by keeping and observing all his commandments, which I am laying down for you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth and all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you have obeyed the voice of the LORD.' The Deuteronomist continues in verses 13 and 14, 'You will always prosper and thrive if you do not turn aside from the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left to go after other gods to serve them.'

The Fort Stockton High School Blue Wave Swim Team kicked off their 2025–2026 season with a strong showing at the UTPB Invitational, hosted by Odessa High on October 4. Facing off against a field of 4A through 6A schools, the Blue Wave held their own, finishing fifth overall out of ten teams with a combined score of 252 points.