December 2025

Rafael Hernandez, age 38, of Fort Stockton, Texas, passed away on December 23. He was born on July 4, 1987, in Boquillas del Carmen, Coahuila, to Hernán and Francisca (Diaz) Hernández.

Multiple Fort Stockton agencies responded to a fire at a vacant former nursing home in downtown Fort Stockton on Wednesday afternoon. The Fort Stockton Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the blaze at the abandoned building—located at the corner of 1st Street and Water Street—at 2:26 p.m., Fire Chief Jessie Dominguez said.

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Editor’s Note: Damage from this storm last year is what caused the Fort Stockton Pioneer Newspaper to relocate to its current address. A powerful thunderstorm tore through the southern part of Fort Stockton Monday evening, leaving behind widespread wind damage, power outages, and localized flooding.

The echoes of cheers, the rhythm of marching bands, the pounding of cleats on turf, and the collective roar of Panther fans under the Friday night lights—these are the memories woven into every beam and bleacher of Panther Stadium. But now, as of Monday, May 6, those echoes begin a new chapter.

The Fort Stockton High School powerlifting teams continue to show their strength and determination, earning top placements at recent meets and securing numerous regional qualifications. The Panthers and Prowlers competed in Andrews on January 25 and in Greenwood on February 15, demonstrating impressive progress and resilience.

This week, two young athletes from Fort Stockton are competing on international courts in Barcelona, Spain — and two more from nearby Imperial will soon follow as they prepare to represent the United States in a multi-country tour through Europe. Fort Stockton’s Aundre Washington and Evan Cordero are currently in the midst of the Spain Euro Cup Tour, taking place June 8–16.

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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.