December 2025

Ciria C. Alcala of Fort Stockton, Texas, reunited with her Lord and Savior on December 11, 2025, at the age of 92. She was a woman of faith and prayer and always bestowed a personal blessing upon anyone who crossed her path. She fiercely loved God and her family, and relished in giving everyone around her a nickname, sometimes with the most humorous of results.

Warren Cude of Fort Stockton was elected vice president of Texas Farm Bureau by the board of directors following the organization’s 92nd annual meeting in Arlington. Cude will help lead the state’s largest general farm and ranch organization as it advances member-driven policy and advocates for Texas agriculture.

Kirby Warnock has officially announced his candidacy for Pecos County Judge. He stated that he is ready to “bring a fresh face to the commissioner’s court” and emphasized that his Pecos County roots are “deeper than a mesquite tree.”

Volunteers and officials gathered yesterday, Wednesday, December 10, at Monahans Sandhills State Park for a planned workday focused on enhancing recreation infrastructure and improving the visitor experience at the park.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) recently featured two of its most critical West Texas sites, Diamond Y Spring Preserve and Sandia Springs Preserve, in a series of guided tours, allowing limited access to these fragile desert ecosystems. These tours, which took place on December 5 and December 6, highlight TNC’s ongoing efforts to protect the precious freshwater that serves as the lifeblood of the arid region.

Last month, Congressman Tony Gonzales’ (TX23) legislation, the National Strategy for School Security Act, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The National Strategy for School Security Act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop best practices for schools across the nation to scale and implement to protect students and school faculty from acts of violence.

Last week, Senator César J. Blanco was honored by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) of Texas as the recipient of the 2025 Legislative Achievement Award. This award recognizes lawmakers who championed legislation benefiting older Texans during the 89th Legislative Session.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Permian Basin, along with the Permian Basin Area Health Education Center (AHEC), hosted the 3rd Annual National Rural Health Day Conference and Recruitment Fair this past Wednesday. The conference focused on the importance of helping current rural students find a pathway to becoming medical professionals in their own communities.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision to reverse a lower court’s ruling and uphold the mid-decade redrawn congressional map for Texas sent candidates scrambling to file or opt to retire with the filing deadline on Monday, Dec. 8. The map is likely to give Republican candidates wins in up to five congressional districts previously held by Democrats.

“May you live in interesting times.” – a saying often misattributed as an ancient Chinese curse. Years ago, when I was in middle management, my subordinates and I were entitled to two 10-minute breaks daily.